Shacktown Residents File Suit Against Pittsfield Over Cell Tower

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Residents of the Shacktown neighborhood have filed litigation against the city after its cease and desist order for the Verizon cell tower at 877 South St. was rescinded.

On Thursday, a civil action suit was filed in Berkshire Superior Court against Mayor Linda Tyer, City Solicitor Stephen Pagnotta, Pittsfield Cellular Telephone Co. (Verizon Wireless) and the Board of Health.

It is an appeal of the board's June decision to rescind the order after the telecommunications company filed a case against the city of Pittsfield in federal court and is a request for declaratory relief.

The document alleges that the decision to rescind the order was in excess of, or in derogation of the Board's authority or jurisdiction; that it was tainted and rendered unlawful by the illicit actions of the mayor, city solicitor and/or others under the mayor’s influence and control; and is not supported by substantial evidence.

There are four counts: an appeal of the decision, the mayor’s refusal to enforce board order, and city solicitor conflicts of interest and improper coercion, and declaratory judgment.

Attorney Scott McCollough emphasized that the complainants had to name the Board of Health in the suit, but added that they are not really complaining about anything that the board but rather "legal complaints about what they were forced to do."

Courtney Gilardi, lead in the suit, said none of the the parties wanted it get to litigation but they want to find a solution for their neighborhood. The goal of the suit is to get back to where the board was urging Verizon to come to the table.

"This Board of Health has been phenomenal, and especially under [Chair Bobbie Orsi's] leadership," she explained.

"They have taken this seriously, they have treated us with dignity and respect, and they have done their due diligence with their investigation and their findings and their conclusions and the board really deserves to have all the practical resources and the legal support that they need to find meaningful solutions for Shacktown."

Citizens Civil Complaint Ag... by iBerkshires.com

orted symptoms such as headaches, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, insomnia, palpitations, fatigue, rashes, tinnitus, memory loss, and concentration issues.

Pittsfield Celebrates Century-Old Red Oak on Arbor Day

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
06:13PM / Thursday, April 24, 2025

The Rev. Michael Denton says the world needs more 'rootedness' and that the oak has provided shade for many in need over the years. 

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The city celebrated Arbor Day with a birthday party for a 100-year-old red oak tree outside United Church of Christ.

This included a cake and singing "Happy Birthday" to the stately organism that challenges the height of the adjacent buildings.

"The thing that always amazes me about trees is that when you look at the network of branches above it, that same thing is mimicked in the ground underneath it. When I think about that, it amazes me," the Rev. Miichael Denton said to a crowd in the church's yard.

"So when you look up at this, underneath us are even more intricate weavings of branches and roots that support what this tree does. As we look at these times and these days, we recognize that this world needs more of that rootedness. It needs to recognize those things that happen above and those things that happen below as we work in concert with each other, recognize that this planet that we live on is fragile, recognize that the planet that we live on needs our help, and by helping out this planet, we help out ourselves."

Most of the buildings at 110 South St. are more than 100 years old, and the tree was likely planted as a celebration of that work. It now stands about 75 feet tall.

"We don't know for sure, but what we do know is that this shade, this tree, has given shade to many of those who needed it," Denton said.

"This tree has given a quiet place for people to sit. This tree has helped keep this section of South Street green and beautiful."

Parks, Open Space, and Natural Resources Program Manager James McGrath explained that while the city didn't plant a tree for Arbor Day, which is Friday, "We are doing a heck of a lot of tree planting." 

In the coming weeks, there will be 40 trees planted in a neighborhood off Elm Street, and additional trees will be planted as part of a volunteer effort with students from Wahconah Regional High School.