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Welcome to Raynham Community Access & Media (RAYCAM), where we engage, learn, and create community access media. We are dedicated to providing a platform for all voices to be heard and shared. Join us in creating a vibrant and inclusive media community.

  1. 3D AGO

    Board of Appeals 02/11/2026

    (Episode Description is AI generated and may be errors in accuracy) A porch that clips the setback, a business you can’t read from the road, and an estate lot waiting on a street the town hasn’t accepted yet—this meeting brings zoning out of the abstract and into everyday trade-offs. We walk you through three variance requests and show how we test each one against the letter and spirit of the bylaw, neighbor feedback, and what actually works on the ground. First, we unpack an estate lot that meets area and frontage but sits on a subdivision road still pending town acceptance. You’ll hear why timing and layout can create genuine hardship, how variances let sensible projects proceed without undermining the code, and what conditions keep things accountable. Then we turn to signage, starting with a service business set hundreds of feet back from the street. The ask: slightly larger letters for real-world legibility. We dig into illumination, materials, scale, and the abutter’s take on sight-lines and impact, and we explain why measured relief can serve both business needs and neighborhood character. The most delicate moment comes with a fully built home whose front porch nudged into the setback because porch footings were missed on the plan. We talk through responsibility, documentation, and proportional response: when does a small dimensional error merit flexibility, and how do we safeguard precedent while avoiding wasteful tear-backs? Rounding out the night, Walmart presents a rebrand-driven sign package with clearer entrance labels for Grocery, Pharmacy, Vision, and more. We explore how intermittent visibility and customer way finding factor into total sign area decisions, why most auxiliary signs remain non-illuminated, and how refacing a pylon preserves scale. If you’ve ever wondered how zoning boards decide what counts as “reasonable relief,” this conversation opens the black box. You’ll leave with a sharper sense of how bylaws, site conditions, and public input come together—case by case, vote by vote. Enjoy the breakdown, and if this helped demystify local land-use decisions, follow the show, share it with a neighbor, and leave us a review so more listeners can find it. Support the show https://www.raynhaminfo.com/ Copyright RAYCAM INC. 2025

    30 min

  2. 4D AGO

    Raynham Select Board 02/10/2026

    (Episode Description is AI generated and may be errors in accuracy) A routine agenda turned into a masterclass in how local government safeguards daily life. We open with a clear-eyed police report on a high-volume January: more than 2,500 calls, a critical response to a vehicle into a home on Broadway, and a snowstorm that tested crews across shifts. Then we make two pivotal staffing moves—welcoming a fully trained local officer and preparing for a seamless dispatcher transition after nearly twenty years of dedicated service—reinforcing the backbone of emergency response when every second counts. The night’s brightest moment belongs to community pride. We present the Raynham Recognition Award to Tia Labrecque, a standout on the U.S. Women’s Deaf National Soccer Team who helped secure gold in Tokyo with four goals and three assists. Her story of perseverance and performance radiates beyond the field, reminding us how individual grit lifts a whole town. From there, we press into decisions that keep a community healthy, funded, and ready. We authorize aerial mosquito larvicide flights over wetlands for the spring-to-fall window, aligning public health strategy with seasonal risk. We resolve a state compliance snag with an agreement to align school capital assessments and appropriations, bringing budget clarity to the district and both towns. We greenlight a no-match Firefighter Safety Equipment Grant application to boost readiness and safety gear at zero cost. And we back Senate Bill 1370 to ease insurance burdens on independent plow drivers, a practical fix to strengthen winter operations and keep roads open when storms arrive. Our Town Administrator’s update connects the dots on infrastructure and facilities. Route 138 faces another state-driven scope revision due to costs, with potential impacts on west-side sidewalks; milling and paving remain targeted for 2027. We also explore a partnership with Bristol-Plymouth to refresh the North School—future temporary police quarters—with attention to lighting, paint, and windows, while navigating lead paint rules. Around town, civic life hums: the Friends of the Council on Aging recruiting board members, a Wingstop ribbon cutting, the Starry Night Gala benefiting schools, and Read Across America plans with the library and district. Subscribe, share with a neighbor, and leave a review with your top takeaway. Which decision matters most to you—public safety staffing, winter readiness, school capital timing, or Route 138 sidewalks? Support the show https://www.raynhaminfo.com/ Copyright RAYCAM INC. 2025

    32 min

  3. 6D AGO

    Conservation Commission 12/03/2025

    (Episode Description is AI generated and may be errors in accuracy) A developer comes back to the table asking to tighten work near a sensitive wetland, and we put field reality ahead of paper plans. After a site walk turned up broken silt fence and missing stakes, we dig into how retaining walls, stone backfill, and drainage details can reduce grading and erosion at the edge of a resource area—while making it clear that no new work starts until the controls are fully restored and the line is approved. The prior waiver of the 25-foot no-touch buffer under a comprehensive permit raises the big question: what truly protects a river when distance is no longer the primary tool? We then shift gears to long-term stewardship. The management company’s role, condo trust obligations, and an upcoming open space restriction next to the river all point to durable protections beyond construction. We talk practical safeguards like PVC or wood posts to keep future yards out of wetland edges. Two single-family home filings move efficiently to closure with conditions, and a request for determination on concrete pads within the buffer earns a negative determination thanks to work staying on existing pavement and a defined limit of work. Community voices anchor the back half. A neighbor reports a car engine block near the river and persistent trash along the bank. We cover jurisdiction limits and commit to coordinating with DPW for a workable, low-impact removal plan. Volunteer trail stewards get a shoutout for clearing brambles, picking up fishing line, and sharing nature insights at local ponds and forests. We also address recurring beaver issues—guided to state wildlife—and flag the spotted lanternfly’s arrival, urging residents to report sightings to protect trees, vineyards, and local ecosystems. If you value clear-eyed oversight, practical conservation, and community partnership, tune in and share this episode with a neighbor. Subscribe, leave a review, and tell us: what’s the smartest way to safeguard wetlands when space is tight? Support the show https://www.raynhaminfo.com/ Copyright RAYCAM INC. 2025

    50 min

  4. 6D AGO

    Raynham Select Board 12/02/2025

    (Episode Description is AI generated and may be errors in accuracy) A quiet room, a folded flag, and a name that meant action: we open with a heartfelt tribute to Marie Smith—trailblazer, veteran advocate, and the first woman elected to Raynham’s Board of Selectmen—whose five decades of service left a durable imprint on our town. Colleagues and our town clerk share personal memories that reveal her defining traits: she listened, she got results, and she showed up for veterans and families when it mattered most. From remembrance to responsibility, we turn to the work at hand. Our police chief delivers a clear-eyed November report: 2,453 calls, 434 emergency 911 calls, key incidents requiring coordinated response, and a multi-year climb in written citations and calls for service. We talk practical impacts—training needs, staffing realities, and how holiday pressures shape public safety—while extending appreciation to officers working the season’s toughest nights. Then we move through the civic essentials: a constable reappointment, a joint public hearing approving one new utility pole and six relocations on Pine Street, and contract actions that keep the town’s core services steady. We formalize Assistant Town Administrator duties for our finance director to strengthen continuity, renew our veterans agent’s agreement as he returns to duty, and extend our engagement with UniBank Fiscal Advisory Services to navigate borrowing and capital markets wisely. Strategically, two housing updates reshape the path forward. The state confirms our MBTA Communities Act compliance, and the Chapter 40B subsidized housing inventory now officially places Rainham above the 10% threshold—granting safe harbor from unwanted comprehensive permit projects. We unpack what that means for zoning, infrastructure planning, and local control. Finally, we set expectations for a disciplined budget season: contracts on the horizon, limited revenues, and a firm commitment to align spending with core priorities without drifting beyond our means. We close with community notes—holiday craft fairs, Santa’s town ride—and gratitude for residents who show up, debate with respect, and help keep Rainham strong. If you value smart local governance, clear policy updates, and stories of service that inspire, subscribe, share this episode with a neighbor, and leave a review to help others find the show. What topic should we dig into next—public safety trends, housing policy, or the budget outlook? Support the show https://www.raynhaminfo.com/ Copyright RAYCAM INC. 2025

    24 min

  5. 6D AGO

    Raynham Special Town Meeting 11/17/2025

    (Episode Description is AI generated and may be errors in accuracy) A full house, a stack of articles, and a community determined to balance urgent needs with long-term discipline. We open with clear ground rules and electronic voting, then move fast through essentials: ambulance funding, union agreements, PEG access supported by cable fees, and a prudent-investor standard that lets the town put trust funds to smarter work. Schools get a much-needed push on capital repairs, plus a shared, independent review of the regional district to tune operations and spending. The night’s heartbeat is public safety. We green light critical upgrades—radio tower HVAC, surveillance cameras, rescue tools, a refurbished pumper, and advanced cardiac equipment—because response quality starts long before the call. Then the big one lands: whether to inject more free cash into a joint police–fire complex. Chiefs argue for co-location and central response; residents press on siting, scale, and avoiding a design that locks in constraints for decades. Our finance leaders lay out a path to keep funding the project with available cash to reduce future borrowing, with bids determining the true number. The vote adds 4.4 million and keeps momentum without foreclosing options. Infrastructure and utilities get their due with road resurfacing, ADA improvements, a six-wheel dump truck, and sewer enterprise moves that fix aging equipment, share regional plant costs, and build a stabilization cushion. Procedural rigor shows up as we postpone two road acceptances until easements and punch lists are complete. Finally, we tackle governance: should the Planning Board’s associate seat be eliminated or elected? After robust debate, voters keep the position and keep it appointed, preserving a tool for quorums, conflicts, and training future members. If local government is where values meet budgets, this meeting is the blueprint: invest in frontline capacity, verify with data, and keep leverage until the bids arrive. Subscribe, share with a neighbor who loves town meeting nights, and leave a review telling us—how would you fund a modern safety complex without losing sleep? Support the show https://www.raynhaminfo.com/ Copyright RAYCAM INC. 2025

    2h 16m

  6. FEB 5

    Board of Appeals 11/19/2025

    (Episode Description is AI generated and may be errors in accuracy) A barn, a narrow road, and the line between personal use and public impact. We open with a detailed proposal for a 60-by-40 barn on a 7.6-acre residential lot, built to house an RV and boats. Setbacks and coverage are in order, but neighbors worry about traffic and safety on a tight, evolving street. We walk through the concerns and vote to approve with a clean, enforceable safeguard: recreational storage only, no business activity. It’s a clear example of zoning tied to use, not speculation. Then the room shifts. An appeal challenges a neighbor’s 20-foot camera poles pointed toward a home and driveway, a fence with angled barbed-wire brackets reaching roughly seven feet to the highest point, and cargo containers placed alongside the property line. We hear video evidence, bylaw citations, and a rebuttal grounded in right-to-farm protections. It’s a tangle of privacy, nuisance, and agricultural needs—plus the realities of modern surveillance hardware. Where does our jurisdiction start and stop? We chart a middle course and focus on what we can regulate. Poles on both properties must come down to 12 feet in accordance with height rules. Any lights on those poles must be shielded so they don’t spill onto abutting property. Cameras may not face neighboring dwellings. The barbed-wire extension brackets must be removed to comply with a six-foot fence limit. And since the cargo containers function as semi-permanent structures, they must be painted a dark green and screened from street view to reduce visual impact while preserving farm operations. We also remind neighbors of the role police and the building inspector play in speed enforcement and potential violations. If you care about property rights, neighborhood character, and how local boards balance competing truths in real time, this hearing is a masterclass in practical governance. Listen for the conditions, the limits of jurisdiction, and the compromises that make life together possible. If you find value here, follow the show, share this episode with a neighbor, and leave a quick review to help others discover it. Support the show https://www.raynhaminfo.com/ Copyright RAYCAM INC. 2025

    1h 57m

  7. FEB 5

    Conservation Commission 11/19/2025

    (Episode Description is AI generated and may be errors in accuracy) Permitting near water isn’t just paperwork; it’s where engineering, ecology, and neighborhood life meet. We take you inside a fast-moving conservation meeting where bridges, trail links, and new homes are shaped by field walks, agency feedback, and the unglamorous details that keep wetlands working. We start with quick votes on past hearings and shift into the big lift: a culvert replacement at Pine Street over Bassett Brook. Stakes are in, Marine Fisheries has weighed in, and construction is queued for dry conditions to minimize turbidity and habitat disruption. We unpack phasing, dewatering contingencies, and a key condition—if the Army Corps or engineers change the design, the team comes back to the table. That simple loop protects the brook and keeps the approval aligned with real-world constraints. Next, we review a Riverwalk minor modification where limits of work are redrawn to pull development back from resource areas. You’ll hear how slope tweaks and retaining walls reduce buffer impacts, and why a gentle, stone-dust path to a kayak access can open the river to people without inviting erosion. We hold the vote to allow a site walk, because decisions should rest on ground truth, not just color lines on a plan. We also open two single-family filings on Cypress Way and double down on the 25‑foot no‑touch zone. Permanent placards, selective post‑and‑rail segments, and clear erosion controls set a boundary that lasts longer than a season. We touch on deed references and certificates of compliance, so protections follow the property, not just the current owner. Finally, we tidy up our process by renaming a confusing “consultant review fee” to “bylaw review fee,” making the town’s software, accounting, and regulations sing from the same sheet. If you care about clean streams, flood resilience, and building the right projects the right way, this walkthrough offers a candid look at how local conservation actually works—fast where it can be, careful where it must be, always anchored in the field. Subscribe, share this episode with a neighbor who loves local trails, and leave a review to help more people discover how small decisions protect big waters. Support the show https://www.raynhaminfo.com/ Copyright RAYCAM INC. 2025

    40 min

  8. FEB 5

    Parks and Recreation 02/03/2026

    (Episode Description is AI generated and may be errors in accuracy) Fields booked, tempers cooled, and a daycare room waiting for a green light: this meeting pulls back the curtain on how a small town keeps recreation running when the calendar is packed and patience is thin. We share how storm repairs on a rental property rippled through budgets, why a long-awaited daycare expansion is stalled at the state level, and how we’re threading together requests from school softball, girls and boys lacrosse, horse shows, and a youth club baseball program without tearing up our lawns or burning out volunteers. We walk through decisions that matter to families right now: predictable field fees, clear schedules, and guardrails that protect shared spaces. The Merrill School Fun Run returns with simple safeguards to save the turf. We also face the hardest problem in youth sports—adult behavior. After parents confronted a referee, we restate our code of conduct, set firm boundaries, and focus on modeling respect so kids can learn the game the right way. That standard isn’t about punishment; it’s about keeping officials, coaches, and players safe so the season can thrive. Beyond the sidelines, the state’s agricultural review praises our care of the land while flagging encroachments tied to a prior land swap. We outline next steps to clarify boundaries and prevent further creep. Training and readiness stay front and center: an umpires class settles into our meeting room, staff heads to the statewide conference to bring back new ideas, February Vacation Club has openings, and summer plans are already rolling with trips to Water Wizz, Battlegrounds, and the local theater. We close by celebrating an Eagle Scout whose forest project reminds us why this work matters: community grows when people step up. If you value fair play, clear schedules, and healthy fields, tune in and share this with a neighbor. Subscribe, leave a review, and tell us: what’s the one improvement you want to see this season? Support the show https://www.raynhaminfo.com/ Copyright RAYCAM INC. 2025

    18 min
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About

Welcome to Raynham Community Access & Media (RAYCAM), where we engage, learn, and create community access media. We are dedicated to providing a platform for all voices to be heard and shared. Join us in creating a vibrant and inclusive media community.

Information

  • Creator
    Raynham
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    150
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Raynham Channel
  • Show Website
    The Raynham Channel