Council Passes Heating Resolution To Aid Market Windsor Residents

The Cambridge City Council passed an order last night designed to get heat for the 16 families in the Market-Windsor Tenants Union whose furnace has been broken since last March.

The resolution passed unanimously and authorized the city to "take all necessary steps" to provide heat for the buildings at 19 to 25 Market Street, Cambridge, owned by the University Realty Company.

"We have tried all other legal means. The City is going to have to take the initiative," charged Frank Flanigan, a lawyer speaking for the tenants.

Last July, the affected tenants signed a contract with Joseph Zemotell, their landlord, agreeing to a $25 monthly rent increase so that the furnace would be, installed by September 15. Their case was dropped at a Court hearing today for lack of specific evidence.

"Why should we go through all this just to get heat?" asked Mrs. Thomas King of 25 Market Street. She charged that the Health Department and Housing Department had been negligent because they have known of the violation since last March.

Cronin Opposes

City Solicitor Philip M. Cronin '53 claimed that the City will be unable to provide the necessary $7000 for a furnace because it cannot legally place

a lien on the property, to insure that the City will get the money back.

Mrs. King addressed Cronin, "You'd be lost without your legal book. You're not much of a man." Cronin left the meeting. Throughout the remaining time there was some question as to whether the Council's resolution might be in violation of the law which Cronin had stated.

It was made an order by the council that the City Manager should petition the City to obtain the necessary funds for installing heating. Mayor Alfred Vellucci added a clause, calling for the relocation of the 16 families in a near by hotel until the furnace is working, "in case the freeze comes first."