Faculty Club Hearing Postponed

Hopes to finally resolve an old conflict between the Harvard Faculty Club and one of its neighbors, Louise G. Fitzgerald Huber, were put on hold at last night's general hearing of the Cambridge License Commission at City Hall.

Meeting to discuss Huber's complaints of faint cooking aromas and sporadic emissions of smoke from the Faculty Club located on 20 Quincy St., the Commission passed a motion to await the results of amendments to the building's ventilation system before making any other recommendations.

Although the building's new three-tiered filter system, installed last winter, should prevent the release of smoke into the atmosphere, Huber, who lives nearby at 20 Prescott St., complained that at times she can still detect fumes which "make your eyes burn."

"We have taken this very seriously from the start," said Mary H. Power, director of community relations for Cambridge, who spoke on behalf of the Faculty Club.

Power suggested it is possible Huber detects smoke when the filters, which are replaced once a week, are changed while chefs are cooking in the kitchen.

Currently, filters must be reached through guests' rooms and consequently are only accessible at irregular times. With a new hatch system that provides easier access to the filters, the filters can be changed at times when no cooking is taking place.

Harvard officials suggested that water vapor from the dishwasher and kettles--becoming visible as it hits the cold air outside the club--may be another possible cause of the emissions.

Richard V. Scali, executive officer of the Cambridge License Commission said in an interview that Harvard has been very cooperative with Huber since the issue was brought to their attention in 1996. They invested $100,000 in order to install a smokestack and filtering system.

"It's actually a situation that's been under investigation for about two or three years. We have had a couple of hearings already, and there have been numerous changes," Scali said.

"Harvard has been very cooperative in trying to solve the problem and Mrs. Huber has been waiting for the last issue of the smoke to be resolved," he said.

In the past, Huber has complained about the noise, the smoke and the deliveries from the Harvard Faculty Club.

On Feb. 5, 1997, Huber brought the Harvard Faculty Club before the Cambridge License Commission to protest several ways in which she said the activities at the club were affecting her family's life.

The issue of smoke was brought up at this meeting when Mrs. Huber complained that smoke frequently billowed down the block from the club. She complained that it affected her eyes even indoors, and prevented her from opening her windows at any time.

She also recounted an incident when two residents on her street thought that the Faculty Club was on fire because smoke emanating from the building was so thick.

At that hearing, Robert S. Berens of Acentech Inc., who investigated the rooftop of the Harvard Faculty Club building, suggested that ventilation exhaust system be installed in a vertical direction.

Huber also complained of excessive rooftop noise coming from the air conditioning, exhaust fans and ventilation units on top of the building.

In addition, noise from the garbage disposal units, delivery trucks to the club before 7 a.m., loud music from parties and other functions, and an unpleasant smell coming from the vent discharge system disturbed her and her husband, Huber said in previous complaints.

Huber is the only resident whose complaints have been brought the Commission's attention, according to Power.

Both the Harvard Faculty Club and representatives for Huber agreed that past complaints were dealt with efficiently, and said they hope to resolve the remaining issue as soon as possible.