Three aldermen appointed to national committee

By George P. Hassett

Three Somerville aldermen will serve on a national policy committee for the Washington-based National League of Cities.

Ward 7 Alderman Robert C. Trane will serve on the Steering Committee on Energy, Environment and National Resources, Ward 2 Alderman Maryann Heuston will become a member of  the Steering Committee on Community and Economic Development and Alderman-at-Large  John M. Connolly was appointed to the Policy Committee on Transportation Infrastructure and Service. 

The three aldermen will join Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone, who is on the NLC Board of Directors, at the organization's March 2008 Congressional City Conference in Washington, D.C.

Curtatone said the appointments will strengthen Somerville's voice on the national level.

“I am very pleased that Aldermen Trane, Heuston and Connolly will have the opportunity to join their fellow leaders at the conference and lend their experience and expertise to committees that are discussing important issues and challenges,” he said.

Trane said his appointment to the energy committee is an opportunity to further the work he started on municipal environmental issues as president of the board of aldermen last year.

“It will also give me the chance to work with other elected officials and to explore policies and practices that we may want to bring back to Somerville,” he said.

Heuston said serving on the economic development committee is an opportunity to learn new strategies that may help Somerville tap its “incredible” potential for smart development.

“I am always looking for ways to serve my constituents more effectively,” she said. 

Connolly said he planned to bring his experiences serving Somerville to the Policy Committee on Transportation Infrastructure and Services. 

“During my time serving as a ward alderman and as an alderman-at-large I have seen the benefits of public transportation as well as the need to continually invest in our infrastructure.  I look forward to sharing my experiences in Somerville and learning from my fellow leaders,” he said.

The appointment of the aldermen was sponsored by the Massachusetts Municipal Association (MMA).

Comments

[Diogenes]

Appointing these three stooges to represent Somerville on a national "policy" committee says all there is to say about Somerville politics. The deepest thought that they give to designing good public policy is trying to understand what the mayor has told them to do.

He wants to eliminate an elected School Committee and double his term. The only reason that he doesn't proposed eliminating the School Committee and Board of Aldermen all together is that it would upset the way in which he dispenses favors.

So where will this national committee's meetings take place? Is the city going to pay traveling expenses? Does anyone really think that these jokers are going to make any contribution to the committee's deliberations? Or that their participation will be good for Somerville in any way? Shouldn't our representatives at least be able to read, because you can tell at the BOA meetings that these guys are incapable of reading their own Board packets.

[harry roache]

What a stroke of genious displayed by the mayor "JOE C"...this is why he has been elected and re-elected by the good people of SOMERVILLE

I have heard that where ever this contingency has to travel too in order to lend a helping hand to some "Policy making" junket the means of travel will be that of and by commuter rail......Let's just hope beyond hope that there is no "TRANE WRECK" to be reported on...How could the city expect to go on with the loss of the 3 STOOGES.......Please make them travel separtely just to avoid the potential of losing the 3 amigos