Boston City Council hearing on mold

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Boston City Council hearing on mold

Boston City Councilor Maura A. Hennigan would like to inform

the public that a Boston City Council hearing will take place to

address the public health threat of mold and poor indoor air

quality, and to learn what Boston can do as a city, a state and a

region to educate the public and prevent further contamination. The

hearing will take place Thursday, Dec. 9, 6 p.m., at the Boston

Teachers Union Hall, 180 Mount Vernon St., Dorchester.

This past June, U.S. Rep. Conyers Jr., D-Michigan, the

ranking member of the House Judiciary Committee, introduced the

first Toxic Mold and Indoor Air Pollution Congressional Caucus and

hosted a press conference and briefing Sept. 22 in Washington to

further raise awareness of this public health hazard. A

representative group of people from across the country, including

Massachusetts, traveled to Washington during the week of Sept. 20 to

advocate for immediate Congressional action.

Conyers, who is sponsoring the U.S. Toxic Mold Safety and

Protection Act, HR 1268, will testify at the Boston hearing. This

bill would generate guidelines for preventing indoor mold growth;

establish standards for removing mold when it does grow; provide

grants for mold removal in public buildings; authorize tax credits

for inspection and/or remediation of mold hazards; and create a

national insurance program to protect homeowners from catastrophic

losses. In addition, an emergency appropriation bill is included to

help schools remediate contaminated buildings and improve air

quality.

The aim of Hennigan's order is to educate the public about the

problem of indoor mold and poor indoor air quality due to water

intrusion in public and private buildings in the city. Although

indoor mold is sometimes invisible to the naked eye, the potential

health effects and symptoms associated with mold exposures are

visible and include, but are not limited to, allergic reactions,

asthma and other respiratory complaints. " This is a serious public

health risk, and I look forward to continuing to raise awareness and

educate the public about this issue by bringing in those who are

knowledgeable on this matter, " Hennigan said.

For directions, visit

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Hennigan aide hired by council president

Thursday, December 2, 2004

City Councilor Maura Hennigan's chief of staff, Kenneally,

recently accepted a position with City Council President F.

Flaherty. Kenneally replaced Joe O'Keefe as Flaherty's director of

policy and communications on Nov. 29.

" This was not an easy decision, " said Kenneally. " I am grateful

to Councilor Hennigan for allowing me the opportunity to work and

learn from her, given her 24 years of experience on the Boston City

Council. "

" I appreciate 's hard work in my office and his service

to all my constituents across the city. I wish him well in his new

job, " Hennigan said.

The 29-year-old West Roxbury native is a graduate of Catholic

Memorial High School, received a bachelor's degree from UMass-

Amherst and a master's degree from Queen's University in Belfast,

Northern Ireland. Before Belfast, he spent four years in Washington

working as an aide to three members of Congress.