HomeMy Public PortalAbout12-09-2013 SFRG report_201312050945295459 Minutes of the Committee on State, Federal and Regional Government
December 2, 2013
The Committee on State, Federal and Regional Government met on Monday, December 2 at 7:00 PM in
the Philip Pane Hearing Room at Town Hall to discuss airplane noise in Watertown attributed to
Massport/Logan Airport and Federal Aviation Administrations' (FAA) changes to Runway 33L.
Attending the meeting were: Councilor Angeline Kounelis, Committee Chair, Councilor Susan Falkoff,
Committee Vice Chair, Councilor Tony Palomba, Committee Secretary, Councilor Cecilia Lenk, State
Senator Will Brownsberger, Anne Landry, Senator Brownsberger's Policy Advisor, and State
Representative Jonathan Hecht. Nearly 30 residents from Watertown attended the meeting. The list of
those attending is attached.
Councilor Kounelis convened the meeting at 7:08 by introducing the members of the Committee and the
elected officials and stating that the purpose of the meeting was to determine the impact of the airplane
noise on Watertown residences and what could be done to address the problem. She noted that this
meeting was only the first step in the process. Below is a summary of key points made during the
extensive discussion that followed:
1) The origin of this concern is the creation of a GPS-based remote navigation system (RNAV)for
Runway 33L which makes the runway a "super highway" for as many as 250 planes. When
planes use Runway 33L they fly over a Watertown as well as adjacent and nearby communities,
including Belmont, Cambridge, Arlington and Winchester. The noise level from planes flying
over Watertown, often so low that residents can see the pilot, has been recorded as high as 70
decimals.
2) The airplane noise has a direct impact on the quality of life for many residents of Watertown. It
interrupts sleep for parents and children, disrupts family and individual recreational activities,
and effects the productive of those who work at home. The airplane noise can occur at any time
in the day and is not limited to a particular area of Watertown. Depending on the number of
planes assigned to runway 33L, planes can fly over an area as often as every two minutes.
3) Many residents have taken steps to register their concerns by calling the noise complaint line
and investigating the noise abatement program. However there was a general sentiment that
officials at Logan Airport and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) have been unresponsive.
There is a Logan Airport Community Advisory Committee (CAC)that collaborates with the FFA
and Massport to provide input into the Boston Logan Airport Noise Study (BLANS) and includes
representatives from communities (e.g. Belmont and Arlington)that are affected by airplane
noise.
4) A number of suggestion to addressed the issue were offered including, continue to call the noise
complaint line, work with other communities affected, involve our Congressional
representatives, arrange a meeting with the FFA, and have Watertown represented on the CAC.
The following motions were discussed by the members of the Committee at the conclusion of the
comments from those attending.
1) The Committee recommends that the Town Manager determine the number of representatives
Watertown can have on the Logan Airport Community Advisory Committee (CAC) and then
appoint the maximum number of individuals to the CAC through an application process
presently used for appointees to other committees and advisory boards.
Approved 3—0
2) The Committee recommends that the Town Manager involve the Health Department in
addressing the issue of airplane noise attributed to Massport/Logan Airport and FAA changes to
Runway 33L and the effects of this noise on the quality of life for the residents of Watertown.
Approved 3 -0
3) The Committee recommends that the Town Council send a letter to State Senator
Brownsberger, State Representative Hecht and State Representative Lawn requesting that they
continue to research the issue of airplane noise attributed to Massport/Logan Airport and FAA
changes to Runway 33L and advice the Town Council and the Town Manager on how best to
address the issue.
Approved 3—0
4) The Subcommittee recommends that the Town Council send a letter to Watertown's
representatives in Congress requesting that they arrange a public meeting with representatives
of the Federal Aviation Administration to discuss the issue of airplane noise attributed to
Massport/Logan Airport and FAA changes to Runway 33L and the effects of this noise on the
quality of life for the residents of Watertown, and that the letter be copied to Watertown's
State Senator and Representatives and the appropriate officials at Logan Airport and Massport.
Approved 3—0
The minutes were prepared by Councilor Palomba.
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