Pittsfield Finance Director Retires
PITTSFIELD — G. Richard Bordeau, who served the city for nearly 30 years, will be retiring as the director of finance and treasurer on Thursday, April 17."It has been an honor and a privilege to serve the citizens of Pittsfield over the past 30 years," said Bordeau in a statement released by Mayor James M. Ruberto's office. "The people here at City Hall and all municipal employees have been a great group to work with and I wish them all every success in the future."
Bordeau stepped into the position during the city's worst fiscal crisis in recent memory. Back in 2001, Pittsfield was facing a $6 million deficit and had to borrow $10 million from the state to cover its shortfall.
The city's recovered since then and currently has a reserve of $5 million.
"I thank Dick for his years of dedicated service to the city of Pittsfield," said Ruberto in a statement. "Working with him for the past four years, I am amazed by the amount of institutional knowledge that he has about the city and the working of government."
According to reports in The Berkshire Eagle, the Pittsfield native had informed the mayor of his decision to retire a year ago. It was a personal goal, he told The Eagle, to retire between the ages of 60 and 62; he will turn 62 in November.
Bordeau began working in the city's Health Department as a registered sanitarian in 1974, after earning his bachelor's degree in biological science from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. After six years, he enrolled in the masters of organization and management program at Antioch New England in Keene, N.H.
He returned to Pittsfield in 1984 as commercial development manager in the Department of Community Development, serving for two years before joining the Assessors' Office. He was appointed to the Board of Assessors by then Mayor Charlie Smith. He was elected to the post and served as chairman until being named to his current post in 2001.
He will be replaced in the interim by city accountant Susan G. Carmel.
Two past City Council presidents, Richard Scapin and Thomas Hickey, both praised Bourdeau in written statements.
"What I admired most was his patient ability to teach mayors and city councilors the art of municipal finance," said Hickey. "It was always a pleasure to work with him. He made it fun."
Scapin said, "I enjoyed working with such a professional and straightforward individual; he will be missed."
Bordeau retires tomorrow and on Friday plans to travel north to do some fly fishing. When asked what he plans to do past Friday, he said, "Pretty much anything I want, when I want."
