Pittsfield Council Rejects Eversource Pole Request for Unpaid Taxes

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The City Council last week rejected a request for a new jointly owned utility pole from NSTAR doing business as Eversource and Verizon New England because of the electric company's unpaid taxes.

Eversource has been challenging its personal property bill since 2018 and only paying about half. The company owes $3.6 million plus $1 million in interest and fees, totaling about $4.6 million in debts to the city.

A representative from Verizon said the request — made by Eversource — was to place the poles, wires, cables, and related fixtures on the north side of East Housatonic Street about 145 feet west from the centerline of Deming Street.

The pole is intended to better support the existing pole line and allow for cables to continue down Copley Terrace.

Though it is legal for the company to appeal its taxes as long as they are paying half of the personal property amount, the council wanted this unanimous vote to send a message: pay your bills.

"Since we've been using a blended method to appraise the utility since 2018, they have been paying about a little bit over half of what their bill is for personal property," Chief Assessor Paula King said.

"There is by law, the ability to appeal a tax as long as you're paying that portion when it comes to personal property, at least half of the bill."

The case is currently pending before the state Appellate Tax Board.

Councilor at Large Earl Persip III brought the situation to light during a public hearing for the pole.  

His sentiments were well received by the rest of the panel.

Ward 4 Councilor Chris Connell agreed, adding that maybe if Eversource hears that the pole was rejected because of unpaid taxes they may reconsider.

"If you want to force somebody's hand then you've got to start denying some things," he said.

Ward 1 Councilor Helen Moon found it problematic that the company is withholding taxes while people who cannot pay utility bills are not offered the same bailouts and get their power shut off.

"Eversource is a public utility, but they are over $1 billion in revenue last year and it looks like they're withholding millions of dollars in taxes for 87 Massachusetts communities," she said.

"Think about like our residents in Pittsfield who don't pay their Eversource bills and what happens to them."

23 Years Later, Berkshire Communities Remember 9/11

By Brittany Polito & Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
05:28PM / Wednesday, September 11, 2024

Dalton officials are joined by police, firefighters and community members at Sept. 11 observances outside Town Hall on Tuesday.

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Around 50 people gathered in Veterans Memorial Park to mark the 23rd anniversary of Sept. 11, 2001, when attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon left nearly 3,000 people dead, thousands wounded, and launched two of the nation's longest wars.

 

Mayor Peter Marchetti described it as "a day that most of us would probably like to forget." When he woke up this morning, the clear skies and sunshine eerily reminded him of the weather on that tragic day. 

 

"There's been a number of these years that the weather is almost exactly the same to remind us of that treacherous day that we all were surprised," he added. 

 

"You know, growing up in this generation, knowing all of the folks that say, 'Do you remember where you were when President Kennedy was shot?' Now my generation has 'Do you remember where you were on September 11, 2001?'" 

 

Five Berkshire County soldiers lost their lives in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars: Sgt. 1st Class Daniel H. Petithory, 32, of Cheshire; Spc. Michael R. DeMarsico II, 20, of North Adams; and Spc. Mitchell K. Daehling, 24, of Dalton, all in Afghanistan; and Sgt. Glenn R. Allison, 24, of Pittsfield, and Chief Warrant Officer Stephen M. Wells, 29, of North Egremont, in Iraq.

 

The ceremony took place around the city's Iraq and Afghanistan War Memorial, dedicated four years ago to honor the men and others lost. A time capsule was buried at the monument with items that were provided by their family members and will be opened in 2101.

 

Brian Willette, commander of the Military Order of the Purple Heart and an Army veteran, said it is "our first duty to remember and to never allow the public or even ourselves to forget the significance of today and what happened next."