PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The City Council began its regular meeting on Tuesday with a proclamation for ALS awareness and the appointment of a new chief information officer.

“This year we celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Ice Bucket Challenge through renewed commitment to increase public awareness and support funding, leading to the significant improvements in ALS research,” Mayor Peter Marchetti explained.

The challenge took social media by storm, with participants recording themselves dumping a bucket of ice water over their heads to promote awareness of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease.

Resident Jacqueline Surbaugh was presented with the proclamation.  Marchetti dedicated this month to ALS awareness and called upon residents to join him in supporting ALS research, advocating for increased funding, and standing in solidarity with those affected by this disease.

The neurodegenerative disease causes the brain to lose connection with muscles, resulting in the loss of the ability to walk, talk, and eventually breathe.  The mayor pointed out that the average prognosis for those diagnosed is two to five years with a diagnosis made every 90 minutes and that the ALS Association has committed over $154 million to support more than 550 research projects globally in a push for new treatments.

The council unanimously voted to appoint Sigfredo Irizarry as the chief information officer responsible for planning, directing, managing, and overseeing the City’s Information Technology department.

According to his resume, Irizarry has over 30 years in the field and previously worked as the CIO for three companies.

The council also approved a conservation restriction the Berkshire Natural Resources Council,