Pittsfield Inaugural Ceremony Scheduled For Tuesday

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A new City Council will take the oath of office on Tuesday.

The 2018 inauguration ceremony is set for 10 a.m. in the City Council chambers. That is when two new councilors, two new School Committee members, and a new city clerk will take the oath of office.

The City Council will feature two new faces - Earl Persip III and Helen Moon - alongside nine incumbents - Kevin Morandi, Nicholas Caccamo, Christopher Connell, Donna Todd Rivers, John Krol, Anthony Simonelli, Melissa Mazzeo, Peter White, and Peter Marchetti.

On the School Committee Dennis Powell and William Cameron will be sworn in alongside incumbents Daniel Elias, Joshua Cutler, Cynthia Taylor, and Kathrine Yon. 

Michele Cetti will take over as city clerk.

Following the oath of office for those elected seats, the City Council will elect both its president and vice president. Marchetti served as the council president for the last two years, was the highest vote-getter in the election, and has voiced interest in returning to the position. Krol served as vice president.

The councilors will then draw for seating positions on the dais and establishing rules of order.

Mayor Linda Tyer will provide her inaugural address. 

Pittsfield City Council Weighs in on 'Crisis' in Public Schools

By Stephen DravisiBerkshires Staff
08:59PM / Monday, December 23, 2024

A half-dozen people addressed the City Council from the floor of Monday's meeting, including Valerie Anderson, right.

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — After expressing anger and outrage and making numerous calls for accountability and transparency, the 11 members of the City Council on Monday voted to support the School Committee in seeking an independent investigation into allegations of misconduct by staff members at Pittsfield High School that have come to light in recent weeks.

 

At the close of a month that has seen three PHS administrators put on administrative leave, including one who was arrested on drug trafficking charges, the revelation that the district is facing a civil lawsuit over inappropriate conduct by a former teacher and that a staff member who left earlier in the year is also under investigation at his current workplace, the majority of the council felt compelled to speak up about the situation.

 

"While the City Council does not have jurisdiction over the schools … we have a duty to raise our voices and amplify your concerns and ensure this crisis is met with the urgency it demands," Ward 5 Councilor Patrick Kavey said.

 

About two dozen community members attended the special meeting of the council, which had a single agenda item.

 

Four of the councilors precipitated the meeting with a motion that the council join the School Committee in its search for an investigation and that the council, "be included in the delivery of any disclosures, interim reports or findings submitted to the city."

 

Last week, the School Committee decided to launch that investigation. On Monday, City Council President Peter White said the School Committee has a meeting scheduled for Dec. 30 to authorize its chair to enter negotiations with the Springfield law firm of Bulkley, Richardson and Gelinas to conduct that probe.

 

Ward 7 Councilor Rhonda Serre, the principal author of the motion of support, was one of several members who noted that the investigation process will take time, and she, like Kavey, acknowledged that the council has no power over the public schools beyond its approval of the annual district budget.