image description — The Pittsfield City Council reviewed and gave preliminary approval to nine department budgets on Wednesday.

2024 Budget Day 1: Pittsfield Council OKs 9 Department Budgets

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
07:33AM / Thursday, May 18, 2023Print Story | Email Story

Ward 2 Councilor Charles Kronick objects to budget on Wednesday and voted against all but three department budgets.

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The City Council preliminarily approved nine departmental budgets on Wednesday, the first day of hearings for fiscal year 2024.

Budget Day 2

Ward 2 Councilor Charles Kronick made failed attempts to reduce multiple line items and voted against all but three departments: the Retired Seniors Volunteer Program, Veterans Services, and City Solicitor.

"The budget for Pittsfield has totally ignored the shift in our population and the ability of our tax base," he said while taking the podium during open microphone.

"I would hypothesize that the reported increase in population is actually an increase in the poor and those who are not able to support the property tax levies. The 10 percent increase in our budget will put a great pressure on people to leave."

Kronick said salary hikes are what is driving the increased budget and the trend will drive people out, reducing the value of residents' taxes.

He will submit a petition to amend the city code that mandates cost-of-living adjustments.

"[Mayor Linda Tyer] will have three options to accept these options that I propose," he said. "One: reduce the salary, two: she can reduce positions, or three: she can apply furloughs. These are all acceptable ways of managing payroll that is not affordable."

The proposed FY24 budget of $205,634,497 is almost $17,000,000, or 8.9 percent higher than the previous year. It consists of $109,350,895 for the city operating budget, $78,088,016 for the school budget, and an enterprise total of $18,195,586.

Tyer describes the spending plan as a "maintenance budget"

"The FY24 budget is best described as a maintenance budget meaning that this budget consists of the cost of labor, the cost of required materials, supplies, equipment and technology, and the cost of contracted services," she said.

"Our proposal does preserve existing positions in the city and school operations, maintains services that the community expects and deserves, and it accounts for inflation."

She has proposed a $1 million appropriation of free cash to offset the tax rate.

RSVP

The Retired Seniors Volunteer Program budget of $117,017 was preliminarily approved with no debate. It is a $9,875, or 9.22 percent, increase from the previous year.

Account Name	2020 Approval	2021 Approval	2022 Approval	2023 Approval	2024 Approval
Director of RSVP	$36,678	$37,944	$40,235	$44,290	$44,241
Volunteer Coordinator	$21,915	$22,346	$24,974	$27,491	$30,907
Administrative Assistant	$23,187	$23,740	$25,500	$28,070	$32,619
Membership and Dues	$400	$0	$50	$55	$150
Postage	$600	$750	$750	$826	$0
Staff Training	$300	$0	$250	$275	$750
Telephone	$6	$0	$0	$0	$0
Supplies	$1,400	$0	$1,000	$1,101	$1,675
Staff Travel	$1,000	$0	$0	$0	$4,600
Volunteer Recognition	$2,500	$0	$2,000	$2,202	$0
Equipment and Copier Lease	$1,981	$1,665	$1,665	$1,833	$1,575
Total	$89,967	$86,445	$96,424	$106,142	$117,017

Mayor's Office

The budget of $255,797 was preliminarily approved with Kronick in opposition. It is a $13,013, or 5.36 percent, increase from the previous year.

Kronick unsuccessfully motioned to reduce the department by $14,000, originally aiming to target Tyer's salary before he was reminded that salaries are set by the city code.

Councilor at Large Karen Kalinowsky questioned the 5 and 7 percent raises within the department.

"What we did for all salaries across the board is we follow the ordinance that passed by the City Council which caps the (cost of living adjustment) at 5 percent," Tyer said.

"The COLA is actually way more than that but it's capped at 5 percent and then we conducted performance evaluations, which is another value that the City Council has emphasized in the last 10 years or so, and based on performance evaluation, employees got one percent, 1 1/2 percent, 2 percent, depending on the score of their performance evaluation. We could have held it back. We chose not to."

Ward 6 Councilor Dina Lampiasi highlighted the administration's efforts to provide better pay and said that it is part of the equation to address the declining population.

"I just think it's important to highlight that because your administration saw that was problematic and you took steps to fix it," she said.

Account Name	2020 Approval	2021 Approval	2022 Approval	2023 Approval	2024 Approval
Mayor	$98,453	$100,915	$102,428	$110,000	$115,725
Director of Admin Services	$58,101	$59,554	$62,889	$67,605	$70,000
Executive Assistant	$41,354	$42,125	$46,516	$50,004	$53,872
Markets and Advertising	$300	$300	$125	$125	$200
Supplies	$2,575	$2,575	$2,575	$2,450	$2,500
Travel	$1,000	$1,000	$0	0	$1,000
MA Municipal Association	$11,200	$11,200	$11,500	$11,500	$12,500
Total	$212,983	$216,669	$225,908	$242,784	$255,797

City Council

The budget of $109,262 was preliminarily approved with Kronick in opposition and is the same as last year.

He unsuccessfully motioned to reduce the department by $5,000, calling out the funding that goes toward the annual Massachusetts Municipal Association conference in Boston.

Ward 5 Councilor Patrick Kavey said education and training are important and suggested that Kronick utilize the resources.

"It's really ironic to me that the person who wants to eliminate this line item or reduce it has never attended one of those," Lampiasi said about the conference.

Kronick said that if councilors can afford to attend the event on their own and it does not need to be paid for by the taxpayers.

Councilor at Large Peter White has attended every MMA conference as possible and said they are "very rewarding."

He referenced remarks made by former Ward 1 Councilor Helen Moon, who had said running for council needs to be accessible to everyone in the community.

"Let's not make it less accessible to those who we want to have run for office," White said.

"We don't want this to be a body that only the wealthy can run for and represent people. Let's not take it out of the reach of everyone in our community and let's make sure that everyone up here if they choose to be, can be educated."

Account Name	2020 Approval	2021 Approval	2022 Approval	2023 Approval	2024 Approval
Councilors	$90,002	$90,002	$90,002	$90,002	$90,002
Clerk of the City Council	$4,000	$4,000	$4,000	$4,000	$4,000
Clerk of Committees	$8,640	$8,640	$8,640	$8,640	$8,640
Education and Training	$0	$2,420	$2,420	$4,620	$4,620
Advertising/Marketing	$1,250	$1,000	$2,000	$2,000	$2,000
Total	$103,892	$106,062	$107,062	$109,262	$109,262

Veterans services

The budget of $872,692 was preliminarily approved with little discussion. It is a $42,766, or a 4.6 percent, reduction from the previous year.

Account Name	2020 Approval	2021 Approval	2022 Approval	2023 Approval	2024 Approval
Veterans' Agent	$51,102	$53,657	$55,312	$59,460	$62,433
Administrative Assistant	$28,165	$33,243	$33,742	$34,248	$37,259
Equipment Maintenance	$0	$842	$1,400	$1,500	$1,750
Rental Expense	$6,500	$6,500	$6,500	$6,500	$6,500
Flags	$2,000	$8,600	$8,600	$11,000	$12,000
Supplies	$2,000	$3,000	$2,000	$2,500	$2,500
Program Expense	$982,457	$900,000	$900,000	$800,000	$750,000
Award and Declarations	$250	$300	$250	$250	$250
Total	$1,072,474	$1,005,650	$1,007,804	$915,458	$872,692

Council on Aging

The Council on Aging budget of $392,042 was preliminarily approved with little discussion. It is a $20,987, or 5.66 percent, increase from the previous year.

Kronick voted in opposition but gave no feedback.

Account Name	2020 Approval	2021 Approval	2022 Approval	2023 Approval	2024 Approval
Director	$59,728	$61,221	$64,240	$69,057	$74,686
Senior Clerk Typist	$33,282	$34,251	$34,898	$34,115	$36,460
Admin Assistant/Supervisor	$25,675	$28,084	$34,895	$37,513	$39,233
Soc Serv Tech/Custodian	$33,443	$29,267	$30,640	$36,876	$38,667
Soc Serv Tech/Custodian (PT)	$26,422	$28,240	$34,546	$38,090	$37,919
Program Assistant	$34,076	$35,055	$39,463	$41,181	$44,369
Activities Leaders (PT)	$22,403	$11,202	$33,218	$33,330	$38,472
Kitchen Coordinator	$23,860	$23,860	$15,600	$18,093	$19,236
Temp. Labor	$3,485	$3,485	$5,000	$5,000	$5,000
Equipment Maintenance	$6,300	$6,300	$6,300	$7,656	$6,900
Building Maintenance	$14,000	$14,000	$15,000	$17,691	$21,000
Printing	$1,000	$1,000	$1,000	$1,179	$1,200
Supplies	$2,500	$2,500	$2,500	$2,948	$3,000
Program Expense	$23,900	$23,900	$23,900	$28,325	$25,900
Total	$310,074	$302,365	$341,200	$371,055	$392,042

Human Resources

The Human Resources budget of $258,211 was preliminarily approved with Kronick in opposition. It is a $24,163, or a 10.32 percent, increase from the previous year.

Kronick unsuccessfully motioned to reduce the budget by $22,000 in opposition to COLA salary increases and the line item for bilingual compensation for the entire city staff that was raised by $9,700.

Earlier this year, the council approved an increase in bilingual pay incentives and six employees receive the benefit.

"We just internally felt it made sense to have it housed in one place," Human Resources Director Michael Taylor explained about the line item.

"It was best for me to manage it because under the ordinance anyway, I am essentially giving final approval to that stipend anyway."

Account Name	2020 Approval	2021 Approval	2022 Approval	2023 Approval	2024 Approval
Director of Human Resources	-	$76,951	$90,430	$97,212	$105,135
Human Resources Specialist	-	$44,654	$48,452	$52,086	$56,126
Training	$5,000	$13,500	$13,500	$15,000	$15,000
Educational Opportunity	$5,000	$0	$0	$0	$0
City Physician/ Medical Services	$40,000	$30,000	$30,000	$30,000	$30,000
Online Application Program	$5,600	$5,600	$5,600	$9,750	$9,750
Stipend Language Prof	$3,000	$3,000	$3,000	$6,500	$16,200
Diversity and Inclusion	$5,000	$5,000	$5,000	$5,000	-
Postage	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0
Supplies	$3,000	$3,500	$3,500	$3,500	$3,500
Assessment Centers	$19,500	$19,500	$19,500	$15,000	$15,000
Recruitment and Retention	-	-	$3,000	$5,000	$7,500
Total	$200,857	$201,705	$218,982	$234,048	$258,211

Airport

The Pittsfield Municipal Airport budget of $311,215 was preliminarily approved with Kronick in opposition. It is a $13,987, or a 4.71 percent, increase from the previous year.

Kronick unsuccessfully motioned to decrease the department budget by $46,000.

"The numbers I am proposing are based on a reversion and my whole assumption approaching this budget is a reversion of spending to 2022 levels," he explained.

"Ambitious but that’s what the people are needing. Any really, tax relief."

Account Name	2020 Approval	2021 Approval	2022 Approval	2023 Approval	2024 Approval
Airport Manager	$61,837	$62,445	$66,265	$71,235	$76,667
Assistant Airport Manager	$50,696	$51,566	$54,768	$58,876	$63,423
Airport Inspector	$40,785	$41,396	$45,623	$49,045	$52,853
Scheduled Overtime	$10,000	$10,000	$10,000	$10,000	$10,000
Commission Clerk	$1,872	$1,872	$1,872	$1,872	$1,872
Contractual Services	$12,000	$12,000	$12,000	$10,000	$10,000
Utilities	$56,800	$55,000	$55,000	$50,000	$50,000
Telephone	$2,200	$2,200	$2,200	$2,000	$2,000
Maintenance	$30,000	$28,000	$28,000	$28,000	$30,000
Snow Removal	$5,000	$5,000	$5,000	$5,000	$5,000
Education & Training	$0	$0	$0	$3,000	$2,700
Membership and Dues	$1,500	$1,500	$1,500	$700	$1,200
Supplies	$2,500	$2,500	$2,500	$2,500	$2,500
Equipment	-	-	$0	$5,000	$3,000
Total	$275,190	$273,479	$284,728	$297,228	$311,215

City Solicitor

The City Solicitor's budget of $267,626 was preliminarily approved with little discussion. It is a $31,194, or 13.19 percent, increase from the previous year.

Account Name	2020 Approval	2021 Approval	2022 Approval	2023 Approval	2024 Approval
City Solicitor	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0
Assistant City Solicitor	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0
Executive Legal Secretary	$45,358	$46,873	$50,169	$53,932	$50,126
Tax Title Litigation	$1,500	$1,500	$5,000	$5,000	$5,000
Supplies	$1,000	$1,000	$500	$500	$500
Law Library	$11,500	$3,250	$0	$0	$0
Legal Fees and Court Costs	$162,000	$162,000	$170,000	$175,000	$210,000
Legal Settlements	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0
Equipment Maintenance	$2,800	$2,800	$2,000	$2,000	$2,000
Total	$222,007	$219,746	$227,669	$236,432	$267,626

Library

The Berkshire Athenaeum budget of $1,514,980 was preliminarily approved with no discussion and Kronick in opposition. It is a $137,624, or 10 percent, increase from the previous year.

Account Name	2020 Approval	2021 Approval	2022 Approval	2023 Approval	2024 Approval
Senior Supervisors	$201,242	$203,251	$211,268	$268,348	$303,848
Supervisor Specialist	$42,269	$42,903	$47,035	$50,368	$54,649
Supervisor Specialist	$132,277	$118,736	$130,943	$128,045	$139,934
Library Assistant II	$75,587	$147,678	$163,932	$173,326	$194,700
Senior Technicians	$110,956	$150,005	$159,835	$166,403	$175,813
Senior Assistants	$99,169	$123,392	$132,720	$150,859	$160,135
Director of Athenaeum	$74,419	$75,988	$81,343	$87,443	$94,208
Library Custodians	$77,788	$78,562	$82,413	$83,202	$104,808
Library Assistant I	$77,888	$85,317	$98,011	$98,996	$110,865
Library Technicians	$70,202	$35,645	$37,388	$39,293	$43,354
Library Shelvers	$68,328	$6,727	$2,874	$2,998	$3,021
Equipment Maintenance	$950	$950	$950	$1,000	$975
Library Staff Development	$1,000	$1,000	$3,000	$3,000	$3,000
Supplies - General	$12,770	$12,770	$12,770	$12,770	$12,770
Supplies - Custodial	$6,450	$6,450	$6,450	$6,450	$7,850
Binding and Microfilm	$3,575	$3,575	$3,575	$3,575	$4,300
Newspapers and Periodicals	$10,000	$7,000	$7,000	$7,000	$7,000
Books and Audio Visual	$64,039	$30,000	$30,000	$40,000	$40,000
Travel	$1,500	$1,500	$1,500	$1,500	$1,500
Unclassified - Library	$1,900	$1,500	$1,500	$1,500	$1,500
Library Networking Fees	$50,420	$50,000	$50,000	$50,000	$50,000
Total	$1,184,229	$1,184,229	$1,265,737	$1,315,737	$1,514,980

Tags: fiscal 2024, pittsfield_budget,

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Dalton Division Road Project in Pre-25 Percent Design Stage

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
05:41AM / Thursday, November 21, 2024

DALTON, Mass. — The town's engineers say there is still time to work through the Dalton Division Road project’s design and permitting process.

In December, the Select Board voted to advocate for Concept A, which would have sidewalks on both sides, a 5-foot bike lane in the road on both sides with a buffer, and a 2-foot painted buffer between the vehicle lane and in the bike lane. They also recommended the two-way stop control option.

Since that decision, there have been sentiments to revisit this decision to reduce the cost and improve safety at the intersection off Williams Street, Washington Mountain Road, and Mountain Road.

The original vote would have been the most expensive and "certainly not" the engineer or the state's "preferred design," Town Manager Thomas Hutcheson said during a meeting in November.

During last week's Select Board meeting, Fuss & O'Neil project manager and senior traffic engineer Steve Savaria represented the options, explained potential obstacles, and demonstrated the next steps. Present board members have yet to vote on their final choice.

The project is still in the pre-25 percent design stage and is currently on the fiscal year 2029 Transportation Improvement Program list, so there is "plenty of time" to work out the details.

Since the original vote, some board members have shifted their opinion toward advocating for the most feasible and timely option with a "path of least resistance to get this project done."

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