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The complex off East Street has three fields and a number of buildings in poor shape through lack of use.

Pittsfield Hoping To Bring Softball Back To The Complex This Summer

By Andy McKeeveriBerkshires Staff
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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The city is currently looking for somebody to run a softball league at the 13-acre complex on East Street.
 
Last summer, with proper notice, the lessee of the city-owned park backed out of the lease in the final year. The building, which served as a concession stand, and the fields have fallen into poor condition. 
 
Purchasing Agent Colleen Hunter-Mullett offered the use of the fields during the day to an interested individual looking to continue a softball league there to finish out the summer, but that ultimately that did not come to fruition. The city was willing to allow that individual to finish the year for free.
 
"Because it is so late in the season, and the City really wants to provide a space for this type of activity for our residents, we are offering them the use of the fields at no cost as long as they are willing to maintain them for the duration of their league. We are looking at our options for future years," Hunter-Mullett wrote in an email last July.
 
This spring, the city issued a request for proposals for somebody else to take it over. But there were no bids. 
 
Now, Hunter-Mullett said she is again working with an individual to get softball leagues up and running again.
 
"Currently, I have a gentleman who is interested in running a softball league at the facility this summer. Once the snow melts we plan to meet with him on site to discuss the limitations of the facility, as well as the do's and don'ts," Hunter-Mullett wrote in an email this week.
 
"I have an e-mail into the Building Inspector's office to see if I can get something in writing as to the number of code violations the building has and what it will take to re-open the snack bar, or not, whichever the case may be."
 
Hunter-Mullett said the interested individual doesn't necessarily need a concession stand but he would like to know what it would take to get it back into compliance with city code.
 
"The gentleman interested in running the league agrees that he does not need to provide a concession stand in order to run a league because there is that great community interest in having the league itself.  But he would like to know what exactly the building needs in case he can come up with the money to fix the building. He plans to provide porta-johns at a minimum this summer," she wrote.
 
For years, Berkshire County Softball Complex Inc. and Jim Bridges ran league among the three fields on the parcel. Most recently, Mark Montemagni signed a lease in 2012 for five years and ran leagues. 
 
The city is now hoping to bring softball back to the complex this summer.

Tags: public parks,   softball,   sports facility,   sports fields,   

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District Moving On From Allegations Against PHS Administrator

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The district is "moving on" from unsubstantiated allegations against two Pittsfield High School administrators, saying there is no threat.

Dean of Students Molly West returned to work last week after being put on leave in December. The Department of Children and Families has cleared West and Vice Principal Alison Shepard of misconduct claims that surfaced after another PHS dean was arrested and charged by the U.S. Attorney's Office for allegedly conspiring to traffic large quantities of cocaine.

School Committee Chair William Cameron on Wednesday emphasized that when such an investigation finds no evidence of wrongdoing, fundamental fairness and due process prohibits taking punitive action simply because of allegations. Reportedly, West was also investigated and cleared in the past.

"The circumstances of Mrs. West being placed on administrative leave don't need to be recited here," he said.

"Social media allegations made against her in December, which then regrettably were widely publicized, were not new. They had been heard, investigated, and found meritless by other school districts many years ago, nevertheless, they were disinterred recently by someone providing neither evidence nor a credible source and then reinvestigated twice in the last three months."

Senior Emma Goetze said she was "appalled, deeply disappointed, and frustrated that an administrator who has been placed on leave, someone who has caused significant discomfort and distress to so many students, has been allowed to return to our building."

"I understand that there is an investigation and acknowledge that this individual was cleared but it feels incredibly unjust to me and to many of my peers that despite everything, this person is being given the opportunity to come back," she said. "It's important to recognize that even though an investigation may have found no wrongdoing, that doesn't change the reality of how this individual's presence makes many students feel."

Investigations led by DCF and retired Superior Court Judge Mary-Lou Rup concluded that there is no evidence to substantiate the accusations.

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