LYNN — The City Council is expected to conduct a public hearing Tuesday regarding a proposed ordinance on the use of recombinant DNA technology as part of a citywide effort to invest in the life sciences sector.
The public hearing is expected to take place on March 22.
Assistant City Solicitor James Lamanna said the ordinance was drafted by the Law Department at the request of Mayor Jared Nicholson last week.
He said the ordinance sets down the rules of how recombinant DNA (rDNA) can be used in the city. It would use the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Guidelines for Research Involving Recombinant or Synthetic Nucleic Acid Molecules as the main set of instructions for life-sciences businesses that use rDNA.
Recombinant DNA allows for the genetic engineering of organisms that can be used in biomedical research and biotechnology.
“We looked at other ordinances in other cities such as Cambridge and Newton when we drafted the ordinance,” Lamanna said. “If the ordinance does get adopted, it will be a kickstart for attracting the life sciences to Lynn.”
Nicholson said his office collaborated with City Council President Jay Walsh and the Public Health Department on the proposed draft.
“We want to make sure that we have the right local infrastructure and capacity in the city to be a good host and a good partner, and to demonstrate that we are prepared to do things the right way,” Nicholson said. “This is another step that sends the message that we’re ready for positive growth here in Lynn, and I’m excited to work with the City Council to make this happen.”
Walsh said life-sciences businesses are running out of room to grow in areas such as Boston and Cambridge; he said Lynn can be a new haven for these facilities.
“These are good-paying jobs,” Walsh said.
This proposed ordinance follows a Feb. 21 announcement from Nicholson that Lynn would be teaming up with the BioConnects New England coalition to create a biomanufacturing industry cluster in the city and New England region. The city also plans to partner with North Shore Community College (NSCC), which has a campus in Lynn, to help interested students find jobs in the life-sciences field.
The language in the ordinance calls for the creation of the Lynn Biosafety Committee (LBC). This committee would be responsible for overseeing and creating the policies related to the use of rDNA in Lynn, approving and reviewing permits, overseeing and reviewing worker training and manuals, and developing procedures related to violations of the ordinance.
Serving on the LBC will be Lynn Public Health Director Michele Desmarais, Lynn Community Health Center Chief Executive Officer Kiame Mahaniah, and at least three other members appointed by the mayor for three-year terms.
The ordinance would also require the establishment of an Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC) for each institution conducting rDNA research or technology. It would be composed of Desmarais and two community representatives with expertise in rDNA research and technology or safety issues.
These community representatives would be appointed by the mayor for three-year terms. The IBC would meet at least once a year and each institution would appoint three of its staff members to the committee.
This committee would be responsible for inspecting each facility conducting rDNA research or technology on an annual basis, and would meet at least once a year to enforce these regulations. Each institution would name a safety officer as one of its committee representatives, who would be responsible for enforcing policies implemented by the panel.
The IBC would notify Desmarais and the LBC about each incident, accident or significant violation of the city ordinance or NIH guidelines committed by an institution.
