More Capital Expenses OK'd By Pittsfield Council
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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Despite a break down in the fiscal 2015 budget process this year, appropriations have been authorized for a few more items from the failed capital expenditures budget, including a variety of maintenance projects said to crucial needs at city schools and athletic fields.
The City Council this week approved a request from Mayor Daniel Bianchi for $766,000 in expenditures that had been included in the annual capital request this summer, but was not approved after a disagreement between the mayor and a majority of councilors on the need for a new fire engine.
"I do think these are things that are important to our schools, and our community," said Councilor Kathleen Amuso in support of the seven budget items put forth.
Since the items requested had been before the council before, they had the option to waive the typical process of referring the appropriation to their Committee on Finance, which they opted for by a 9-1 vote, with Councilor Jonathan Lothrop opposed.
The council questioned a combination of city staff and representatives of Berkshire Community College for approximately 30 minutes on the particulars of the expenditures, especially its two highest ticket items: $200,000 toward an artificial turf athletic field at BCC, and $225,000 for new stadium lights at Wahconah Park.
President Ellen Kennedy and project spokesman Michael MacDonald told the council the BCC project will result in the one of the largest public fields in Berkshire County, which will be available for a variety of sports including soccer, football and lacrosse.
The city's contribution is just one piece of a project that will cost approximately $2.3 million, that is hoped will expand a playing and practice field capacity which many local organizations have complained is overcapacity.
"The environmental bond bill for the state contains $1,100,000 for this project," MacDonald told the council, in addition to a $150,000 donation recently announced from Berkshire Bank and other contributions. "We are very hopeful that in the near future we will be hearing about the release of those funds."
"A synthetic turf field will provide a multi-sport and community-based asset for the city, allowing almost unlimited capacity for all sporting and practice events." said city Parks & Open Spaces Manager James McGrath in a supporting statement. "Financial support is coming from many corners of our community, and a commitment of funds from the City of Pittsfield will show other potential donors that this is indeed a worthwhile community project."
Another quarter million will go to replace lighting Wahconah Park, which Director of Buildings & Maintenance Peter Sondrini said has been falling apart in recent years and is in need of a more permanent fix.
"The lights are well over 30 years old," said Sondrini, who said the existing light towers have continued to fall over, malfunction and even catch fire, resulting in many thousands in recurring repairs. "They need to be replaced. Fixing is no longer an option."
The new lights will have a 25-year warranty, and will not require any maintenance expense from the city during that time.
Other expenditures approved were replacement of bleachers at Pittsfield High ($120,000), removal of an aging oil tank at Taconic High ($50,000), asbestos removal ($100,000) and door replacements ($30,000) at several city schools, and replacement of a crime scene investigation vehicle.
Police Chief Michael Wynn said although a more expensive purchase than ordinary patrol cars, these special use vehicles typically have a longer life span.
"It's more expensive up front, but we get more fleet service out of it in the long run," said Wynn.
Wynn told the council that while this need had been foreseen in the department's budget request this summer, since that time one of the two 2001 vehicles currently used for this purpose has had to be mothballed.
The council voted unanimously to approve the $766,000 appropriation to cover these seven capital expenditures.
City of Pittsfield- Capital Projects Request
Tags: capital projects, capital spending, Wahconah Park,
