CITY OF CAMBRIDGE

CAMBRIDGE. MASSACHUSETTS 02139
       Tal. 878 6800

EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT
.JAMES L. SULLIVAN
   City Manager

August 6, 1976

To the Honorable, the City Council:

In accordance with the request of the City Council I have during

the past weeks reviewed in detail the material generated by the two
public hearings conducted by the City Council and also the material
provided by both the proponents and opponents of D.N.A. genetic research.
The Council has requested that the City Manager establish a Cambridge
Experimentation Review Board and prepare a plan for the organization of
the Board.

   Many recommendations have been inade  to me from many sources
concerning the make-up of the board. There were "Lose who felt that
the board should consist of both p-roporicnts and opponents  to the
experimentation 3nd some neutral citizens. After some deliberation
I rejected this approach because it would tend to set up antagonistic
positions on the committee whose approach would he to attempt to
sway neutral members. Others felt that since the experjrnentations to
take place were of a scientific nature and extremely conplex that the
committee should consist of knowledgeable scientists, biologists and
geneticists who would approach the problem scientifically and come
to a conclusion. I rejected this approach as well for the issue is
before us Qecause of a dispute within the scientific.community as to
the hazards involved and it would be extremely difficult to find know-
ledgeable scientists who did not have preconceived views on the subject.

Since the issue has been

laised by many who have expresscd concern

about the potential hazards of experimentation to the citizens of Cambridge,
and the problems that can be generated-by scicntists who havc c? self interest
in experimentation controlling the experimentation, it seertied only reasonable
to create a committee of Cambridge citizens who could approach the subject
in an un?.lased manner and insure that the public safcty is at all times
the forerAkb,st consideration.

Honorable, City Council -2- August 6, 1976

I therefore contacted a number of Cambridge residents from different

walks of life and different parts of the Community to request that they
consider service on the committee.
citizens have agreed to serve:

I am pleased to state that the following

1. Dr. Francis Comunale - Commissioner of Health and Hospitals,

chairperson.

2. Mary Nicoloro - 15 Harding Street, member Wellington-Harrington
  Citizens Committee,  Board of Directors of Cambridge Family
  and Children's Services.

3. Sr. Mary Lucille Banach - 799 Concord Avenue, Secretary to the

Boarci of Directors, Sancta Maria Hospital.

4. Sheldon Krimsky - 59 Sacramento Street, Associate Director,

Program in Urban, Social, and Environmental Policy, Tufts
University.

5.. Daniel J. Hayes - 60 Rindge Avenue, vice-chairperson, Business-

man, former Mayor and City Coun.cillor.

6. William J. Le Messurier - 94 Brattle Street, Partner -

Le blessurier Associates - Structural Engineers.

7. Cornelia h%eeler - 123 Coolidge Hill, former, chairperson

Health and Hospitals Committee; former City Councillor.

8. Dr. John L. Brusch - 831 Flassachusetts Avenue, Medical Doctor,
. Board Certified in Infectious Diseases.

9. Constance Hughes - 24 Gorhzm Street, Public Health Nurse and

Social Worker.

Responsibily of the Board

  The broad' responsibility of the Experimentation Review Board shall
be to consider whether research on recombinant D.N.A. which is proposed
to be conducted at the P3 level of containment in Cambridge may have any
adverse effect on public health within the City, and for this purpose to
undertake, among other studies, to:

(a) review the "Decision of the Director, National Institutes

of Health to Release Guidelines for Research on Recombinant
D.N.A. Molecules" dated and released on June 23, 1976;

review but not be limited to the methods of physical  and
biological  Containment reconmended by the. N. I .tl. ;

(b]

ilanornble, City Council -3- August 6, 1376

(c)

review methods for nonitorjng coniplinncc with app1ic;tble
procedural safeguards;
review methods for monitorin); compl iancc with safeguards
applicable to physical containment;

(d)

(e) rcview proccdures for handling accidents (c.g. fire) jn

recor:lbir?aiit  D . N . A.  research faci 1 it i es ;

(f)

advise the Connissiorier of Ilealth and liospitals on the
reviews, findings and reconmicndations .

Powers of the Board

In carrying out their responsibilities the Board shall bc empowered

to :

(a)

employ such scientific and other consultants and such
clerical assistance as it ma!' determine is necessary
to assist it with the approval of the City blanager;

(b) through its chairperson it may. ask for and receive

reports from the biohazard cormj ttee of Harvar-d and
M. I .T. ;

(c) through its chairperson it may ask for and receive

information from other relevant sources;. '

(d) may ask for and receive plans for laboratory desipis

and modifications for P3 level containment;

(e)

may call upon the advice and counsel of those in the
employ of thc City with the approval of the City bfanager;

should establish a procedure whereby thc comiittee m3y
request and receive advice, reports, and opinior,s from
federal, state and local officials and from citizens of

ff)

' Canbridge and other interested people;.

(g) may also receive and respond to questions and concerns

of ci tizeris of Cambridge regarding recombinant D.N.A.
research.

Relationship of the Board to the Internal Bio-Hazard Committees at Harvard
and bf. I .T.

In addition to the relationships between the Board and the Biohazards

Cornllittees of Harvard and E.11'1' that. are already built into the functions

Honorable, City Council .- 4 - August 6, 1976

of the Board itself, the following additional relations are to be
requested of the Universities:

The Commissioner of Health and Hospitals or his
representative shall be invited to attend any and
all meetings of the Harvard and NIT Biohazards
Committees;

Notices of all meetings, whether regular or special, of
the. universities' Biohazards Committees shall be sent
to .the Commissioner of Health and Hospitals;

Copies of all local guidelines for practices and
procedures related to recombinant D. N. A. research
at all levels shall be sent to the Commissioner;

Copies of the minutes of all meetings of the
universities' Biohazards Committees shall be sent
promptly to the Health Commissioner;

All plans for designs and modifications of containment
facilities, if any, shall be sent to the Commissioner
of Health and Hospitals and the Cambridge'Building
Commissioner;

Each of the universitics' Biohazards Committees shall
render to the Comiiissioner of Health and Hospitals in
summary form at the close of each academic year an
annual report of their principal activities.

  The Committee has been provided with copies of the NIH'pidelines
and substantial material on both sides of the issue. The members have
been advised to review the material provided. They will hold their first
mcetirtg at the call of the Chairman,  Doctor Francis Cornunale,
sf Hcalth and Hospitals.
the responsibility-and powers of the Committee they axe free to call upon
assistance from many sources in the course of their study.

Commissioncr

As has been outlined in the descriptions of

  It is my belief that the Committee as constituted will thoroughly
review the subject and will provide the Commissioner of Hcalth and I-iospitals
valuable insights into the problems with reasonable recommendations for
a course of action to be adopted by the City Government.

Remectfullv submitted,

e

/.' Jabies L. Sul livan

JLS/nwc

C' y Manager

(1"