Somerville Neighborhood News has a lot of good headlines for you in this latest newscast. Here is one headline entitled: Fossil fuel divestment appears stalled

Despite a petition signed by over 500 people, a unanimous resolution from the Board of Aldermen, and the support of Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone, it does not appear that the Somerville Retirement Board (SRB) will be moving divest the city’s pension fund from fossil fuel companies any time soon.

The Board, made up of five people, two of whom are elected by city employees, manages the city employee pension money. The funds are invested in securities valued at almost $230 million as of last summer, according to Michael Pasquariello, executive director of the board.

The SRB’s website does have information on the request to divest from the biggest 200 publicly traded fossil fuel companies, but Pasquariello said in a recent email that “the Board has not created an in-stone timeline.” Despite numerous requests, Pasquariello was not available for an update or for any comment whatsoever.

But that’s not stopping the Fossil Free Somerville advocacy group, which launched the petition last year.

On Jan. 30, the group sponsored an informational luncheon for city employees and other members of the fund at the Somerville Public Library.

Members of the group explained to the audience that selling off fossil fuel stocks can be a good investment move.

“Actually, the fossil fuel companies, it turns out that sometimes you do better than if you didn’t divest,” Evan Seitz said.

Only a handful of current or former city employees attended the lunch.

Among them was former Deputy Fire Chief Peter St. Clair, who tried to convince those who might be on the fence.

Read the story and watch the video here at: www.somervilleneighborhoodnews.org or watch SNN Tuesdays at 7 p.m. on SCATV Ch.3.