Council Chides Star Markets

Citizens angered by noise from two local Star Markets gained the sympathy last night of City Council members frustrated by their inability to correct the problem.

The residents complained of high noise levels from late-night and early-morning unloading of foodstuffs and the 24-hour operation of large air conditioning systems at the Porter Square and Mt. Auburn St. Star Markets.

Although aware of the problem, city officials have been unable to stop the noise, which municipal authorities say exceeds allowable levels under a city ordinance.

"There's got to be some way to stop them," said Councillor Thomas W. Danehy, banging his fist on the table. "Thirty days. Bam. I won't stand for it," he added, saying the city should give Star Market a short deadline for correcting the problem.

Star Market has not complied with the noise ordinance because it lacks a monetary incentive, said Councillor Alice K. Wolf.

Although violation of the law carries a $300 fine, Star Market has never been cited, according to City Manager Robert W. Healy.

Healy said he has been in contact with executives at Star Market and expects to meet with them this week.

Danehay said he was disappointed with the inability of formal channels to resolve the matter and added that he favored informally pressuring the grocer.

"I shop at Star Market, but I can find somewhere else to shop, and I can convince a lot of other people to do the same," he said.

Mayor Alfred E. Vellucci ended the debate with a resolution rescinding a "curb cut" for the Star Market at Porter Square. The resolution restricts Star Market's ability to enter the loading dock near the residential street at its rear.

Sister City in Distress

In other business, the council heard from Nancy Ryan, a coordinator of Cambridge's sister city relationship with San Jose Las Flores in El Salvador. Ryan said the El Salavdoran town was occupied last week by a batallion of that country's treasury police.

The batallion--which Ryan said was specially trained by U.S. forces--comandeered the local schoolhouse as a garrison and captured Manuel Cartagena, the former mayor of San Jose Las Flores who visited Cambridge last spring.

When he learned of Cartagena's detention, Vellucci contacted government officials in El Salvador and the U.S. and placed a direct phone call to the Archbishop of El Salvador to express his concern.

Shortly before last night's council meeting, the mayor's office was notified of Cartagena's release, Ryan said. She attributed his release, in part, to Vellucci's persistence.

The council also passed two ordinances introduced by Councillor Francis H. Duehay '55 designed to reduce the costs of waste disposal and protect the city's underground water supply.

The first order bans foodstuffs not packaged in an "environmentally acceptable" manner and will go into effect on October 1, 1991. The second ordinance, which will go into effect immediately, will facilitate the proper disposal of used motor oil.