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Pittsfield Councils Gives Preliminary OK to $179M Operating Budget

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — On the fifth and final day of preliminary budget hearings last week, the City Council passed four departmental budgets without amendments and passed a fiscal 2022 operating budget of $179,205,963, which was amended from the originally proposed $179,410,963.

The operating budget passed in a 7-3 vote with Ward 1 Councilor Helen Moon, Ward 2 Councilor Kevin Morandi, and Ward 4 Councilor Chris Connell voting in opposition.

President Peter Marchetti was absent from the hearing, as he is recovering from surgery.

The council originally rejected an order from Mayor Linda Tyer to appropriate $750,000 from free cash to reduce the fiscal 2022 tax rate. Tyer then made a counteroffer to increase the free cash amount to $1.5 million, which passed unanimously.

The panel also passed an order authorizing the use of revolving funds for FY22, an order appropriating $202,000 for parking-related expenditures, and an order to borrow $70,000 for Enterprise Fund capital expenditures.

An order to borrow an aggregate sum not exceeding $6,992,000 for General Fund expenditures capital budget passed in an 8-2 vote with Moon and Connell in opposition and the Five Year Capital Plan was accepted and placed on file in a 7-3 vote with Moon, Morandi, and Connell voting in opposition.

The 5 Year Capital Plan has raised controversy amongst community members because it includes a $55 million rebuild of the Pittsfield Police station.  Members of the public called into this meeting to express opposition to this expense, claiming that it does not align with the progressive values that the city says they are trying to adopt.

Mayor Linda Tyer assured the panel that the Five Year Capital Improvement Plan is a "living, breathing document" and the items on it are not concrete. This was not enough assurance for the opposing council members.

Public Services


 
The budget of $9,050,721 was approved in an 8-2 vote with Connell and Morandi voting in opposition.  This is a $974,333 or 12.1 percent increase from last year with the largest increase being $440,000 in solid waste disposal expenses.

There are also four new positions listed in the budget: a Highway Maintenance Person, Business Manager, ROW Inspector, and Parks Foreman.

Connell and Morandi did not agree with the addition of a business manager, claiming it was unnecessary after Commissioner of Public Services and Utilities Ricardo Morales outlined the work overload his department is under and how the administrative position would aid them.

Connell unsuccessfully motioned to cut the business manager's salary of $40,000, which only he and Morandi supported.

"We can't undercut how important administrative work is, how much that really weighed out productivity," Ward 6 Councilor Dina Guiel Lampiasi said. "Anybody who has worked in the modern world in an office setting knows how much administrative work that can really eat up the time of people that you need doing other work."
 
Account Name   2018 Approval 2019 Approval 2020 Approval 2021 Approval 2022 Approval
Commissioner of Public Service   $45,880 $48,449 $50,209 $47,406 $51,794
Business Manager   - - - - $40,000
City Engineer    $72,000 $75,840 $84,652 $85,593 $43,235
Inspector of Weights and Measures    $39,146 $45,103 $0 $0 $0
Office Manager   $41,258 $42,296 $43,367 $50,838 $51,601
Traffic Superintendant         $65,711 $65,000
Highway Superintendent         $69,066 $72,174
ROW Inspector (new)   - - - - $45,000
Street Compliance Inspector   $55,650 $60,089 $62,838 $0 $0
Traffic Maintence Person         $38,024 $38,024
Highway Maintenance Craftsman   239,365 $241,263 $238,565 $249,304 $302,950
Highway Maintenance Craftsman         $267,604 $281,289
Highway Maintenance Person (new)   - - - - $70,000
Parking Garage Manager    $53,768 $54,977 $56,370 $57,798 $60,399
Parking Control Officers    $61,055 $63,512 $68,057 $72,140 $75,386
Administrative Assistant    $35,572 $68,841 $76,065 $83,743 $86,088
Fleet Manager   $51,666 $55,796 $58,639 $60,896 $63,636
Working Foreman   $47,746 $51,546 $54,169 $56,751 $59,305
Motor Equipment Repairman   $229,089 $216,687 $227,540 $243,515 $254,473
MEO-2    $44,401 $46,365 $48,966 $51,933 $54,270
Parks Lead     $39,768 $41,999 $44,717 $0
Park Maint. Superintendent         $64,267 $67,159
Parks Craftsman    $45,800 $32,452 $34,273 $36,412 $76,100
Custodian   $28,793 $31,637 $32,480 $33,822 $35,344
Signal Maintainer   $37,000 $35,333 $36,399 $0 $0
Park Maintenance Men   $127,986 $102,683 $142,992 $158,847 $207,494
Parks Foreman (new)   - - - - $50,000
Park Maintenance Superintendent   $61,745 $60,400 $63,473 $64,267 $67,159
Seasonal Labor   $90,000 $90,000 $80,000 $50,000 $50,000
Scheduled Overtime   $125,000 $125,000 $200,000 $200,000 $100,000
Snow/Ice Overtime   $100,000 $100,000 $100,000 $100,000 $100,000
Equipment Operators   $223,096 $224,570 $252,457 $ $
Contractual Services   $100,000 $100,000 $50,000 $50,000 $50,000
Contractual Allowances   $12,500 $10,000 $10,000 $10,000 $10,000
Traffic Signal Maintenance   $100,000 $100,000 $100,000 $150,000 $150,000
Utilities   $80,000 $60,000 $35,000 $35,000 $35,000
Street Lighting   $480,000 $430,000 $350,000 $250,000 $200,000
Maintenance   $100,000 $100,000 $100,000 $100,000 $150,000
Collegiate Baseball/ Wahconah Park (PARKS)   $0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Maintenance of School Fields   $15,000 $15,000 $15,000 $20,000 $20,000
Repairs/Services   $55,000 $0 $0 $0 $0
Garage Maintenance   $220,000 $220,000 $200,000 $200,000 $220,000
Rental Expense   $71,250 $73,200 $73,200$ $73,000 $75,000
Repairs - Streets   $250,000 $250,000 $250,000 $250,000 $275,000
Streetscape Maintenance   $35,000 $35,000 $50,000 $50,000 $50,000
Solid Waste Collection    $1,251,889 $1,283,186 $1,300,262 $1,800,000 $1,950,000
Solid Waste Disposal    $1,138,634 $1,161,407 $1,321,183 $1,350,000 $1,790,000
Solid Waste Recycle    $763,349 $782,433 $794,029 $187,000 $180,000
Household Haz Waste Collection    $6,000 $6,000 $6,000 $6,000 $6,000
Landfill Monitoring    $100,000 $100,000 $70,000 $70,000 $150,000
Sand   $700,000 $700,000 $700,000 $700,000 $700,000
Professional Services    $10,900 $13,000 $15,000 $20,000 $20,000
Garage Supplies   $20,000 $15,000 $13,000 $13,000 $20,000
Office Supplies   $10,000 $8,000 $10,000 $12,000 $12,000
Maintenance of Parks    $100,000 $100,000 $100,000 $110,000 $110,000
Gasoline and Diesel Oil   $330,000 $300,000 $300,000 $300,000 $330,000
Tree Operations   $75,000 $85,000 $60,000 $85,000 $100,000
Equipment   $15,000 $15,000 $15,000 $15,000 $15,000
Highway and Traffic Supplies   $30,000 $30,000 $20,000 $32,000 $32,000
Total

 

 

$8,014,526 $7,966,737 $8,076,245 $8,076,388 $9,050,721

 

Water Treatment

The water enterprise account totaling $5,614,281 is a $141,578 or 2.6 percent increase from last year.  It was passed in an 8-2 vote with Morandi and Connell opposing.
 
Account Name     2018 Approval 2019 Approval 2020 Approval 2021 Approval 2022 Approval
Commissioner of Public Utilities      $22,940 $24,224 $25,105 $23,703 $25,897
Business Manager (new)     - - - - $20,000
City Engineer     - - - - $21,618
Water Superintendent     $61,898 $65,048 $68,352 $70,813 $66,257
Administrative Assistant     $0 $17,782 $20,435 $20,606 $21,491
Working Foreman     $52,571 $56,345 $62,838 $63,991 $55,194
Sr. Civil Engineer     $30,485 $31,251 $32,043 $32,875 $33,368
Wtr./Swr. Maintenance Person     $164,310 $168,267 $176,691 $184,117 $188,532
GIS Coordinator     $30,485 $31,251 $32,043 $32,875 $33,368
Water Mach. Repairman     $79,618 $83,693 $79,103 $89,518 $85,990
Chief TPO Non-Shift     $54,170 $58,629 $61,612 $63,991 $66,737
Head TPO Non-Shift     $0 $0 $0 $  
TPO Non-Shift     $214,855 $241,285 $253,209 $266,646 $351,786
Meter Reader     $36,521 $38,161 $40,280 $42,477 $42,656
Senior Clerk Typist     $38,465 $0 $0 $0 $0
Seasonal Labor     $38,400 $38,400 $38,400 $38,400 $40,000
Overtime     $95,000 $95,000 $95,000 $95,000 $95,000
Contractual Allowances     $4,500 $5,000 $5,000 $5,000 $5,000
Utilities     $350,000 $350,000 $375,000 $375,000 $375,000
Taxes     $180,000 $170,000 $160,000 $160,000 $160,000
Maintenance     $300,000 $300,000 $250,000 $250,000 $250,000
Contractual Services     $200,000 $200,000 $230,000 $230,000 $230,000
Professional Services     $180,000 $180,000 $250,000 $250,000 $250,000
Supplies     $40,000 $40,000 $35,000 $35,000 $35,000
Chemicals     $290,000 $290,000 $270,000 $300,000 $300,000
Capital Improvements     $50,000 $50,000 $50,000 - -
Acquisition of Equipment     $75,000 $75,000 $50,000 $75,000 $150,000
Maturing Debt     $827,088 $1,075,933 $1,090,546 $1,167,208 $1,111,682
Interest on Debt     $671,148 $579,105 $539,500 $535,041 $539,453
Short-term Debt Issuance         $120,000 $120,000 $200,000
Debt Issuance Cost     $15,000 $15,000 $15,000 $15,000 $15,000
Allocation to General Fund     $969,602 $920,004 $950,474 $930,441 $845,253
Total     $5,047,116 $5,175,154 $5,375,631 $5,472,703 $5,614,281

Sewer Enterprise

The sewer enterprise account of $1,039,608 was unanimously approved with little discussion.  This is a $222,806 or 27.3 percent increase from last year.
 
Account Name   2018 Approval 2019 Approval 2020 Approval 2021 Approval 2022 Approval
Working Forman   $45,554 $49,803 $55,803 $55,874 $56,712
Wtr./Swr. Maintenance Persons   $153,790 $162,979 $168,342 $185,928 $177,896
Wtr./Swr. Laborer   - - - - $75,000
Overtime   $50,000 $50,000 $50,000 $50,000 $50,000
Contractual Allowances   $1,500 $2,500 $2,000 $5,000 $5,000
Utilities   $30,000 $30,000 $35,000 $35,000 $35,000
Maintenance   $40,000 $40,000 $40,000 $40,000 $40,000
Stormwater Services   $25,000 $18,500 $15,000 $30,000 $100,000
Contractual Services   $95,000 $95,000 $95,000 $400,000 $400,000
Mains & Manhole Supplies   $20,000 $15,000 $14,000 $15,000 $100,000
Total   $460,844 $468,782 $475,145 $816,802 $1,039,608

 

Waste Water

The waste water enterprise account of $10,658,249 is $3,916,455 more than last year.  This is largely due to a $1,720,066 increase in the Long Term Debt Principal expenses and a $946,524 in the Long Term Debt Interest expenses.

The budget was passed in a 9-1 vote with Morandi opposing.
 
 
Account Name     2018 Approval 2019 Approval 2020 Approval 2021 Approval 2022 Approval
Comm of Public Works     $22,940 $24,224 $25,105 $23,703 $25,897
Sewer Superintendent     $63,452 $66,663 $70,054 $72,760 $75,882
Business Manager (new)     - - - - $20,000
City Engineer (new)     - - - - $21,618
Administrative Assistant      $0 $17,782 $20,435 $20,606 $21,491
Work Foreman Water Machine Repairmen     $44,432 $46,700 $54,820 $56,041 $58,271
Sr. Civil Engineer     $30,485 $31,521 $32,043 $32,875 $33,368
Chemist     $57,191 $60,090 $62,838 $65,750 $66,737
GIS Coordinator     $30,485 $31,521 $32,043 $32,875 $33,368
Water Machine Repairmen     $149,571 $155,258 $163,979 $176,975 $188,200
Lab Technicians     $75,138 $78,545 $82,943 $87,092 $90,680
Chief TPO Shift     $50,541 $53,096 $55,803 $57,410 $59,874
Head TPO Shift     $194,382 $413,793 $512,038 $531,050 $596,365
TPO Shift     $365,698 $231,590 $133,203 $139,629 $134,117
Head TPO Float Shift     $81,223 $41,203 $47,790 $49,972 $50,653
Senior Clerk Typist     $32,536 $0 $0 $0 $0
Electrician      $0 $40,000 $55,803 $57,410 $59,874
Seasonal Labor     $38,400 $38,400 $38,400 $38,400 $40,000
Overtime     $95,000 $95,000 $95,000 $95,000 $100,000
Contractual Allowances     $6,000 $6,000 $10,000 $10,000 $10,000
Utilities     $500,000 $575,000 $700,000 $700,000 $1,200,000
Chemical Process     $220,000 $220,000 $200,000 $300,000 $580,000
Maintenance     $260,000 $260,000 $250,000 $250,000 $250,000
Sludge Handling     $375,000 $375,000 $375,000 $400,000 $803,300
Contractual Services     $110,000 $110,000 $100,000 $100,000 $90,000
Professional Services     $180,000 $180,000 $200,000 $200,000 $150,000
Supplies     $45,000 $45,000 $40,000 $40,000 $40,000
Capital Improvements     $50,000 $50,000 $50,000 $40,000 $40,000
Acquisition of Equipment     $50,000 $50,000 $25,000 - -
Maturing Debt     $1,024,386 $999,323 $1,098,663 $1,198,215 $2,918,281
Interest on Debt     $802,386 $637,281 $822,469 $786,220 $1,732,744
Debt Issuance Costs     $50,000 $15,000 $15,000 $10,000 $10,000
Short-term Debt Interest         $200,500 $200,500 $200,000
Allocation to the General Fund     $886,636 $963,322 $1,011,692 $1,009,310 $997,530
Total     $5,868,535 $5,887,088
 
$6,580,621 $6,741,794 $10,658,249

 

Worker's Compensation

Worker's compensation was unanimously approved without discussion. The budget of $650,000 has been consistence since 2020.
 
Account Name     2018 Approval 2019 Approval 2020 Approval 2021 Approval 2022 Approval
Compensation Payments     $335,000 $300,000 $275,000 $275,000 $275,000
Medical Payments     $225,000 $225,000 $225,000 $225,000 $225,000
Injured on Duty - Police and Fire     $190,000 $150,000 $150,000 $150,000 $150,000
Total     $750,000 $675,000 $650,000 $650,000 $650,000

Finance and Administration

The Finance and Administration budget of $1,248,221, was approved with little discussion in a 9-0 vote with Connell marked “out of his chair” because he was absent for the vote.

The budget has increased 2 percent from last year, or by $24,645.
 
 
Account Name     2018 Approval 2019 Approval 2020 Approval 2021 Approval 2022 Approval
IT Manager (Moved to IT budget)     $0 $0 $0    
City Accountant     $61,150 $62,999 $67,575 $69,264 $73,143
Administrative Assistant     $32,522 $33,055 $33,538 $17,720 $33,741
Chief Assessor             $80,185
Assessors     $185,342 $193,213 $197,587 $203,815 $71,050
Treasurer     $83,424 $88,095 $91,295 $93,577 $98,818
Tax Collector     $62,474 $64,574 $66,919 $68,592 $72,078
Info Systems Specialists (Moved to IT budget)     $0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Assistant Treasurer     $42,615 $43,255 $46,246 $47,909 $49,965
Assistant Tax Collector     $44,319 $45,104 $47,399 $25,274 $43,627
Purchasing Agent     $64,249 $66,188 $68,592 $69,963 $73,518
Deputy Purchasing Agent     $34,379 $35,580 $38,231 $39,004 $44,579
Head Clerk     $32,947 $33,010 $34,035 $35,096 $36,602
Account Clerk-Assessor     $32,522 $33,055 $33,538 $34,383 $43,627
Buyer     $0 $0 $30,157 $30,551 $36,833
Payroll Specialist     $41,981 $35,925 $38,701 $39,910 $41,622
Junior Accountant     $44,768 $46,230 $48,351 $50,580 $51,339
Benefits Analyst     $41,981 $42,611 $43,367 $44,484 $45,151
Principal Clerk Cashiers     $58,794 $59,842 $59,233 $61,004 $64,556
Senior Account Clerks - Treasurer     - - $28,495 $29,219 $30,472
Senior Account Clerks     $97,398 $98,859 $63,462 $65,231 $59,315
Network Administrator (Moved to IT budget)     $0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Tax Collection Services     $50,000 $60,000 $65,000 $65,000 $65,000
Equipment Maintenance     $15,000 $15,000 $15,000 $20,000 $20,000
Revaluation     $101,000 $76,000 $79,000 $85,000 $85,000
Legal Ads and Subscription     $12,000 $10,000 $8,000 $8,000 $8,000
Supplies     $32,000 $26,000 $20,000 $20,000 $20,000
Total     $1,170,865 $1,168,595 $1,223,721 $1,223,576 $1,248,221

Unclassified

The budget of $53,237,125 is a 1 percent or $69,251 decrease from last year.  It was passed in a 7-3 vote with Moon, Morandi, and Connell opposing.

Connell motioned to reduce the Contingency line by $50,000, which failed in a 6-4 vote with Moon, Ward 5 Councilor Patrick Kavey, Morandi, and Connell voting in support.

Moon queried Police Chief Michael Wynn on the Capitol Improvement line that increased by $400,000 on top of funding the department is allocated in the Capitol Improvement Plan.  

The line item is budgeted for police cruisers, Wynn said, some of which have a short life of 3-5 years.

Wynn explained that it is anticipated in FY22 that they will allocate $250,000 of that line item for for vehicles.
 
Account Name   2018 Approval 2019 Approval 2020 Approval 2021 Approval 2022 Approval
40U Hearings Officer   $2,500 $2,500 $2,500 $2,500 $2,500
40U Clerk   $1,500 $1,500 $1,500 $1,500 $1,500
Crossing Guards   $25,000 $25,375 $25,375 $27,000 $27,000
Scheduled Overtime   $15,000 $15,000 $20,000 $20,000 $30,000
Insurance Medicare Coverage   $1,156,751 $1,156,751 $1,156,751 $1,200,000 $1,200,000
Insurance Health   $24,500,000 $25,025,000 $26,425,000 $26,750,000 $25,300,000
Health Ins. Mitigation Account   $210,832 $0 $0    
Insurance General   $1,232,134 $1,293,740 $1,425,000 $1,600,000 $1,837,869
Insurance Group Life   $85,000 $85,000 $100,000 $100,000 $100,000
Insurance Unemployment   $300,000 $250,000 $150,000 $150,000 $150,000
Retirement Contribution   $12,206,474 $13,318,798 $13,519,322 $14,178,149 $14,915,413
Benefits Conversion   $400,000 $400,000 $500,000 $500,000 $500,000
Stipends       $1,000 $1,000 $1,000
Animal Shelter Management Fee   $52,360 $52,360 $52,360 $52,000 $52,000
Telephone and Internet   $125,000 $125,000 $100,000 $100,000 $95,000
Computer Upgrade and Repair   $0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Computer License and Support   $0 $0 $0 $0 $0
City Audit   $95,000 $95,000 $85,000 $85,000 $85,000
Contractual Services   $110,000 $133,350 $133,350 $133,350 $133,350
Tyler Street Business Group   $0 $0 $0    
Medicaid Services   $40,000 $60,000 $60,000 $45,000 $45,000
Seminars/Travel/Dues   $25,000 $27,000 $20,000 $10,000 $10,000
Postage   $50,000 $50,000 $50,000 $50,000 $50,000
Bank Service Charges   $20,000 $15,000 $10,000 $10,000 $7,500
Contingency   $245,000 $245,000 $235,000 $200,000 $200,000
Capital Expenditures   $375,000 $375,000 $550,000 $100,000 $500,000
Long-term Debt Principal   $7,595,982 $7,889,695 $5,590,000 $5,924,120 $5,960,573
Long-term Debt Interest   $2,392,100 $3,385,196 $3,900,000 $3,781,508 $3,651,203
Short-term Debt Interest   $405,535 $175,000 $175,000 $175,000 $175,000
Debt Issuance Costs   $100,000 $50,000 $50,000 $50,000 $50,000
Allocation from Water   ($969,602) ($920,004) ($920,004) ($930,441) ($845,253)
Allocation from Sewer   ($886,636) ($963,322) ($963,322) ($1,009,310) ($997,530)
Total   $49,909,990 $52,367,939 $51,096,036 $53,306,376 $53,237,125

 


Tags: fiscal 2022,   pittsfield_budget,   

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Pittsfield Firefighters Battle Early Morning Blaze in Extreme Cold

iBerkshires.com Staff
PITTSFIELD, Mass. – No injuries were reported after firefighters extinguished a fire in a two-story detached barn and garage at 566 South St. early Sunday morning.
 
The Pittsfield Fire Department just after 2 a.m. responded to reports of a building “fully involved” with the blaze.
 
“All personnel battled the blaze under extreme cold conditions with the main body of fire being brought under control within an hour,” according to a news release from the department.
 
The two-alarm fire brought all on-duty personnel to the scene, where they remained until about 6 a.m. to extinguish all remaining hot spots.
 
Hinsdale Fire Department was asked to respond with its firefighter rehab bus “due to the extreme cold conditions,” according to the news release.
 
There are three residences within 100 feet of the barn, but none were in danger during the fire, Deputy Chief Neil Myers said in the release.
 
The owner’s residence was not damaged in the blaze.
 
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