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"