Somerville residents have been expressing frustration at the lack of progress in solving the air traffic noise problems in the city, according to Alderman At Large Mary Jo Rossetti.

By Jim Clark

An order was submitted by Alderman At Large Mary Jo Rossetti at the November 24 Regular Meeting of the Somerville Board of Aldermen that the City Clerk invite the Logan Airport Community Advisory Committee representative, Wig Zamore from the Community Advisory Committee, to the Board’s next meeting to recommend action for the increased impact of Logan air traffic.

In addressing the order, Rossetti told the Board, “On November 16 I learned while I was getting ready to go to the Ward 2 ResiStat that there was a meeting being held in our own Main Branch Somerville Public Library on Highland Ave. that was organized by a group of people outside our community who are part of the Boston West Fair Skies group. They are a very determined angry group of individuals as it relates to the impact of noise of air traffic from Logan airport. So we know about that area in our meetings as well.”

Alderman At Large Mary Jo Rossetti reported to the Board of Alderman that members of the community are anxious to see progress made on the noise pollution issue.

Rossetti pointed out that at the meeting there was considerable discussion relating to two bills at the federal level that the West Fair Skies group has been actively asking legislators to sign on to. According to Rossetti, Congressman Michael Capuano has agreed to sign on to both bills.

“On December 3 there’s a large meeting with many legislators – and Congressman Capuano will be in attendance – to be held in Milton at Milton High School,” Rossetti reported. “I hope that somebody from our community can attend.”

Rossetti then emphasized that she felt that Zamore needs to come before the Board to present his recommendations for addressing the air traffic noise pollution issue at its next meeting.

“These other communities are moving fast and furious,” said Rossetti. She pointed out that residents of Medford, Malden, Cambridge and elsewhere attended the November 16 meeting in Somerville, and she asked for the Board’s support in having Zamore come to share his views and recommendations on the matter.

Board President William A. White, Jr., however, stated that he did not feel that Zamore’s appearance before the Board was necessary. “Nothing is going to happen, in my mind, in the near future,” said White. “It’s a Congressional Act. If you want to sponsor resolutions for us to approve, then that’s fine. Otherwise, my preference would be to have it go to committee. That’s going to be the last meeting of the year. What we can do as a board, at this point I can only think of, is approving resolutions. If that’s the end result then make whatever suggestions you have for resolutions and have them put on the agenda for that meeting and if Mr. Zamore wants to speak briefly on the resolution then that will be fine.”

Rossetti responded that she will prepare resolutions but that she felt she has the need to respond to residents concerns about the issue. “I think the community needs to hear that we are taking this seriously,” she said. “Because I’ve had too many constituents contact me daily about disappointment that Somerville isn’t doing anything. I want them to hear that we are very serious”

White then emphasized that he appreciated what Rossetti is saying, but the issue is a matter for the Federal Aviation Administration and that an order by the Board would likely have little impact. “This is a long process that probably involves Congressional action, because this is done by the Federal Aviation Administration. And even though Massport plays a role in alternate runway configurations, etc.”

White encouraged the submission of appropriate resolutions to serve the purpose of communicating the city’s concerns to the Congressional delegation.

Rossetti noted that Zamore has ideas for consolidation with neighboring communities that she would like to see presented to the Board.

White seemed to express a bit of frustration that more time would be given to the issue, pointing out that the issue has been discussed at length throughout several Board meetings in the past, but he encouraged Rossetti to submit the resolutions and that Zamore would be welcome to speak briefly at the next meeting.

The item was subsequently approved, with the expectation that Alderman Rossetti would be submitting the aforementioned resolutions.