Pittsfield City Council Gives Initial OK to Police, Public Services Budgets

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — On the last day of fiscal 2024 budget hearings last week, the City Council preliminarily approved five departmental spending plans and a $205 million city budget.

The council is expected to vote on the spending plan at its meeting on Tuesday night. 

The $205,584,497 operating budget is almost $17 million, or 8.9 percent, higher than this year's budget of $188,822,018. 

It breaks down into $109,300,895 for city operations, $78,088,016 for the School Department, and $18,195,586 for the enterprise which includes the Department of Public Utilities water treatment, sewer, and wastewater.

Included is a $50,000 reduction to the Worker's Compensation budget for medical payments that was approved on the second day of hearings.

"The budget does do something for our citizens. It does a lot for our citizens," Mayor Linda Tyer said in response to criticism.

"We educate over 5,000 kids, we keep the city safe with police and fire services, so the budget is not a punishment on citizens. It's actually a way to provide services to the community."
 
Councilor at Large Karen Kalinowsky, Ward 1 Councilor Kenneth Warren and Ward 2 Councilor Charles Kronick voted against the budget. Ward 3 Councilor Kevin Sherman and Ward 7 Councilor Anthony Maffuccio were absent.

Kalinowsky and Kronick have repeatedly expressed concern for the burden on the taxpayer. Warren said the budget doesn't meet statutory requirements per basic guidance from the state Department of Local Services and is not consistent with what other cities do.

"Besides the impact on property owners, which I have discussed, I don't feel that I'm legally justified in supporting and voting for this budget," he said.

The council also approved the borrowing of $10,648,000 for general fund capital expenditures with Kronick voting in opposition.

This includes $1 million in repairs to the Taconic High School track. At the beginning of the meeting, community members in favor of the renovation filled council chambers.

Student Kailynne Errichetto said the school has been unable to host track meets because of the conditions of the facility and drainage issues, calling some aspects an "accident waiting to happen."

She said some of the cancellations could have been avoided if the drainage system had worked, explaining that the track was soaked and the infield was a "disgusting muddy mess."

"The community and the Taconic and PHS athletes would really benefit from this proposed capital infusion towards the renovation of the track because we want good training," Errichetto added. "The track is home to so many different people and events."

She said people of all ages utilize the track and it is time for an upgrade.

Longtime Pittsfield educator and athletic coach Joseph Albano described the history of the track, which was built in the late 1960s, and the city high schools' struggles with insufficient facilities.

"It's been 30 years of pleading and begging to redo the track at Taconic High School," he said.

The council also approved an allocation of $1 million in free cash to reduce the tax rate with Kalinowsky, Warren, and Kronick in opposition.

Kalinowsky wanted to see $5 million allocated from free cash but Tyer said this was not possible as the city will only have $6 million in free cash after the $1 million appropriation.

Police Department

The police budget of $14,364,673 was preliminarily approved after generating significant conversation. It is a $2,437,236, or 20.43 percent, increase from the previous year.

Kronick voted against this line after unsuccessfully motioning to reduce the police captains salary line by $30,000 and the finance and administration manager line by $2,000.

Department of Public Services

The public services budget of $11,095,563 was preliminarily approved with Kronick in opposition. It is a $1,125,056, or 11.28 percent, increase from this year.

Water Treatment

The water treatment budget of $6,199,738 was preliminarily approved with little discussion. It is a $983,321, or 18.9 percent, increase from the previous year. 

This department saw a $500,000 increase in chemicals that are used at the plant including laboratory chemicals, supplies, and testing.

Warren asked if the city is looking into bidding on a regional basis and Morales explained that there is a limited number of communities in the county with water treatment plants that use the same equipment.

"The type of chemicals we use for the specific uses we have are not regionally available in that sense," he explained. "I would say there's a lot of things that go into that one of them being the type of treatment we do versus what other communities have to do."
 

Wastewater

The wastewater budget of $10,993,692 was preliminarily approved with little discussion and Kronick in opposition. It is a $968,875, or 9.7 percent, increase from the previous year.

This department also saw a significant increase in chemicals, $400,000, which include laboratory chemicals, supplies, and testing.

Sewer Enterprise

The sewer budget of $1,002,156 was preliminarily approved with little discussion. It is a $46,740, or 4.5 percent, decrease from the previous year.

Pittsfield City Council Weighs in on 'Crisis' in Public Schools

By Stephen DravisiBerkshires Staff
08:59PM / Monday, December 23, 2024

A half-dozen people addressed the City Council from the floor of Monday's meeting, including Valerie Anderson, right.

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — After expressing anger and outrage and making numerous calls for accountability and transparency, the 11 members of the City Council on Monday voted to support the School Committee in seeking an independent investigation into allegations of misconduct by staff members at Pittsfield High School that have come to light in recent weeks.

 

At the close of a month that has seen three PHS administrators put on administrative leave, including one who was arrested on drug trafficking charges, the revelation that the district is facing a civil lawsuit over inappropriate conduct by a former teacher and that a staff member who left earlier in the year is also under investigation at his current workplace, the majority of the council felt compelled to speak up about the situation.

 

"While the City Council does not have jurisdiction over the schools … we have a duty to raise our voices and amplify your concerns and ensure this crisis is met with the urgency it demands," Ward 5 Councilor Patrick Kavey said.

 

About two dozen community members attended the special meeting of the council, which had a single agenda item.

 

Four of the councilors precipitated the meeting with a motion that the council join the School Committee in its search for an investigation and that the council, "be included in the delivery of any disclosures, interim reports or findings submitted to the city."

 

Last week, the School Committee decided to launch that investigation. On Monday, City Council President Peter White said the School Committee has a meeting scheduled for Dec. 30 to authorize its chair to enter negotiations with the Springfield law firm of Bulkley, Richardson and Gelinas to conduct that probe.

 

Ward 7 Councilor Rhonda Serre, the principal author of the motion of support, was one of several members who noted that the investigation process will take time, and she, like Kavey, acknowledged that the council has no power over the public schools beyond its approval of the annual district budget.