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Ruberto Details Plans for SuccessBy Jen Thomas - January 07, 2008
 | | Mayor James M. Ruberto is sworn in by Register of Deeds Andrea Nuciforo as City Councilors Matthew Kerwood and Michael Ward look on at Monday's inaugural ceremony. |
PITTSFIELD - When Mayor James M. Ruberto addressed hundreds of local legislators, community leaders and the incoming city councilors at Monday morning's inaugural ceremony, he sent one clear message - Dare to dream.
"Here we are today - Jan. 7, 2008 - in the dead of winter, with some tough economic times upon us and a lot of uncertainty upon the world," said Ruberto, who is embarking on a third consecutive term as mayor. "Some people in Pittsfield might think this is a pretty good time to hunker down, weather the storm, and delay the progressive agenda we have begun until we reach a more secure future. My friends, I say to you, we must continue our commitment to securing our own future."
Now is not the time to back down. Now is the time to dream big."
(Read the whole inauguration speech here.)
After taking the oath of office, administered by Middle Berkshire Register of Deeds Andrea F. Nuciforo Jr., Ruberto explained that part of that dream is working to make Pittsfield "the finest small city in the Northeast" and "the envy of the entire region" through a collaborative effort that engages all citizens. Outlining plans that included a new high school, a continued emphasis on the revitalization of the downtown and a commitment to diversity, Ruberto said the path to progress is clear.
"Four years ago, it was much more difficult to see our way to a better Pittsfield. But my friends, we have traveled far, and from here, we can see a much clearer picture of our community," he said.
City Councilors were also sworn in on Monday. |
Specifically, Ruberto expects to see construction begin on his much-celebrated $12.9 million Beacon Cinema on North Street, more General Electric Economic Development funds funneled to the Berkshire Museum for future renovations and a reshaping of the Park Square area. In his third term, Ruberto wants to see Pittsfield's streets safer and stronger, a goal he wants to achieve by encouraging renters to become homeowners.
"For far too long, we have been far too patient, waiting for bold ideas from various Boston bureaucracies to help us reinvent the West Side and Morningside sections of our City," he said. "As we improve our neighborhoods and invest in the City, we will also provide shelter for those who need it. We must call for special legislation to expand tax abatements for the elderly. We must also strengthen safety net services, and continue to focus on improving handicap access throughout the City. We must promote health and safety."
The key to success for the city is a strong connection between government and business, said Ruberto, who named attracting new businesses to the area as a priority.
"We have to attract new employers, create new jobs and open up opportunities for our citizens," he said.
Ruberto's biggest undertaking in the new year, though, may be the promise to create a new high school that addresses all the needs of the modern student.
"At the center of our dream for a better Pittsfield, we must have and will have a plan in place for a new state-of-the-art high school. I have seen the talent of our kids and they have inspired me. Our students deserve nothing less than the best, most flexible, most technologically-advanced learning environment in the country. And that's what we are going to build," he said. "This will not be cheap. It will not be easy but some things are just simply worth fighting for."
"This high school will be a monument of Pittsfield's renaissance, representing the best of our commitment to the next generation," he continued.
This announcement comes following years of discussion about school consolidation and much-needed repairs for both Taconic High School and Pittsfield High School.
Ruberto pledged to look confidently ahead, all the while asking for the support of the people to make his dreams a reality.
"Who in God's name is going to do all the work? The answer is all of us. I'm asking every able-bodied person to take and share in this dream and to share in the work to see it through," Ruberto said.
City Council President Gerald Lee will serve his third term in that position. |
Monday's inaugural ceremony also doubled as an organizational meeting of the City Council and a swearing in of the members-elect of the City Council and the city clerk.
Gerald Lee was re-elected as Council President and Matthew Kerwood was named vice president.
For Lee, his fifth term may be the most exciting.
"I'm curious to see what the year holds. I expect people to be talking about the money allocated to the museum and the streetscape project. I'm also interested in the plans for the school. It obviously won't be completed in my time here but it'll be started now," Lee said.
With the first regular meeting of the City Council set for Tuesday night at 7:30, Lee said he's ready to get moving.
"With the first meeting tomorrow, there's not much time to celebrate," he said. |
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