City Council Business

In additional business last night:

The council discussed, but did not take action, on, a complaint from Alfred E. Vellucci that small shopkeepers have been shocked to a receive bills for $225 in fees for city garbage collection since June of 1986. Richard Rossi, assistant city manager and director of the public work department (DPW), said city law first imposed the charge of $25 per month in 1955, although collection has been sporadically enforced.

Vellucci further complained that the DPW keep Harvard Square far cleaner than East Cambridge, asking whether "John Harvard is somehow better" than his constituents.

. The council received, but did not discuss, a report from health Commissioner Melvin H. Chalfen on the proposed Animal Research Ordinance, which goes to a full hearing on April 27. The Cambridge Committee for Responsible Research, an animal right group, distributed a criticism of the report, which it considers unduly charitable to the city's research institutions that use laboratory animals.

. An order sponsored by City Councilor William H. Walsh commissioned a report from the city manager on the formula used to tax rent-controlled housing, which Walsh said places a unfair burden on homeowners. The order passed by a vote of 5 to 2, with liberal lawmakers Saundra Graham and Alice K. Wolf absent.

. Councilor Alfred F. Vellucci questioned Cambridge Redevelopment Authority Executive Director Joseph Tulimier on the possibility of building low income housing on unused land in the Kendall Square area. However, Tulimieri said the land could not be released from a contract between the city and Boston Properties, Inc. No action was taken on the matter.

. Councilor Vellucci was in the midst of an impassioned plea for low-income housing in Kendall Square, when he looked up--and lo! What did he see? A lot of empty chairs.

Besides himself, the council chamber contained but a handful of spectators, two reporters, city clerk Joseph Connarton and temporary chairman Thomas W. Danehy "This has never happened in my 34 years on the city council," Vellucci complained to his cable television audience.