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Future of Ice Skating Uncertain At Pittsfield Common

By Joe DurwinPittsfield Correspondent
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Firefighters have volunteered to create an ice rink at the Common, bringing skating back for the first time in five years.

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The longtime tradition of ice skating at the Common is returning this winter after a five-year hiatus, but it is undecided whether that will continue as the park enters the next phases of redevelopment.

An effort currently under way to ice over the field arose out of a request by a group of local firefighters who are doing the project on their own time. The group opened the hydrants late last week to begin pumping in the large volume needed to fill the 150-foot field with water up to 3 feet deep in places

"We gave them the go ahead, we thought it was a perfect initiative," said James McGrath, the city's parks and open spaces manager.  "Unfortunately, the weather's not really cooperating, but as I understand they're going to try to get out there and really finish the job should the weather hold for us."

Frigid temperatures expected beginning early next week should help set the rink.

The City Council voted Tuesday to accept a recently awarded $400,000 grant for the next of four phases in the redevelopment plan for the First Street park.

Phase 2 will be addressing a lot of work to the foundation of the park, including grading, drainage and electrical conduits that will set the infrastructure for the final two stages, as well as redoing the pathways and all lighting. Construction will begin in July, with the playground side of the park remaining open throughout the work period.
 
Ward 7 Councilor Anthony Simonelli inquired about whether the current effort to have a rink will be the last, as the reconstruction continues.


"It was my understanding that the skating rink was not going to be part of the project in its entirety when its completed," Simonelli asked McGrath. "Is this a one year thing, of the skating rink?"
 
McGrath confirmed that the master plan for the park did not include a formal ice rink. "There was some concern about the damage that a rink might cause to the turf in the great lawn area."

McGrath said that while the city had a detailed plan of what is intended to come out of the next phases of the park redevelopment, it will still be putting it back before the public for additional input before future phases are undertaken.

"If there's real momentum, and folks really want to see an ice rink or the ability to site an ice rink out there, we want to explore that, thoroughly," he said. "It's not off the table, but it's something that we want to look more closely at."

"I'm glad we're going to revisit this conversation," said Councilor Melissa Mazzeo.  

"If its really determined that we won't be siting a rink at all in the future at the Common, I think it's incumbent on the city, and certainly the Parks Commission and the staff of the Community Development office to figure out how we're going to provide winter ice for this community," McGrath told the council.  "We really need to get serious about that once and for all."


Tags: park,   Pittsfield Common,   skating ,   skating rink,   

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Pittsfield Council to See 10-Year Charter Review Report

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Following almost two years of work, the Charter Review Committee has made its recommendations to the City Council.

Tuesday's council agenda includes the committee's report dealing with governance items such as the charter objection, term limits, and financial procedures. Every 10 years, a panel reviews the City Charter, which defines the city's structure of government.

"The Charter Review Committee was established by city ordinance in May 2023. Its first meeting took place on August 7, 2023, under the direction of City Solicitor Stephen Pagnotta," Chair Michael McCarthy's executive summary reads.

"Solicitor Pagnotta informed the committee that its mission is to offer recommendations to city government concerning the Charter."

The charter objection was the most discussed issue throughout the preview process.  Members determined "the City's interest in a functioning government is not served well by a Charter' Objection being made by a sole Councilor."

The nearly 50-page report proposes amendments to Article 2 Section 9C, Charter Objection, to allow for discussion, require three supporters, and be prohibited when it pertains to the proposed budget for the upcoming fiscal year.

"The Committee felt strongly that the budgetary process should not be held hostage to a Charter Objection. The process of approving a budget under the Charter involves months of hearings with firm calendar restrictions, leading to a budget that must be in place before each fiscal year begins," McCarthy wrote.

"A Charter Objection during this process would have the potential to disrupt and delay the budget being in place on July 1 of each fiscal year."

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