Pittsfield Council News in Brief

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The City Council approved two new City Hall hires put forward by Mayor Daniel Bianchi on Tuesday.

The approval fills key positions at City Hall. Douglas C. Clark nows heads the Department of Community Development and John M. DeAngelo will serve as personnel director. Clark fills a vacancy left by the departure of Deanna Ruffer in September, while the appointment of DeAngelo as personnel director is replaces what was previously filled as personnel manager position.

In other business, the council:

• Proposed local zoning regulation for medical marijuana dispensaries drafted by the Community Development Board will be reviewed in more detail at the council's Committee on Ordinance & Rules on June 3. Concerns were raised on whether this would allow enough time to have the zoning ordinance change in place in time for potential dispensary applicants, but City Solicitor Kathleen Degnan indicated that the state approval process through the Department of Health that forms the first phase of application would necessarily take through this summer, following approval just last week of the state's own regulations. At least one entity, the nonprofit Manna Wellness Inc, has already contacted city officials about locating a site to open a Pittsfield dispensary. 

• Also referred to the June 3 O&R subcommittee were three communications from the mayor seeking amendments in  the city code with respect to sidewalks, sewers and personnel.

• Concurring with a recommendation of its Finance subcommittee, the council voted in favor of making $1.3 million available to undertake a state-mandated design feasibility study for its high school building conundrum, 78.3 percent of which is anticipated to be reimbursed by the Commonwealth. The study is the next step in a years long process expected to ultimately result in either a replaced or significantly renovated Taconic High School. 

• ​The council voted in favor of a traffic order from Bianchi removing parking restrictions from Madison Avenue, restrictions put in place in 2004 when the city acted on a petition from then Councilor Anthony Maffucio to impose a no-parking area on part of the south side of the street.

• A Community Development Block Grant Consolidated Action Plan for the coming fiscal year was approved unanimously. At a prior subcommittee meeting, the Department of Community Development informed the council that anticipated cuts in the CDBG budget will instead amount to a slight increase in 2014 funding. 

Pittsfield ZBA Member Recognized for 40 Years of Service

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
12:23PM / Thursday, April 25, 2024

Albert Ingegni III tells the council about how his father-in-law, former Mayor Remo Del Gallo who died at age 94 in 2020, enjoyed his many years serving the city and told Ingegni to do the same. 

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — It's not every day that a citizen is recognized for decades of service to a local board — except for Tuesday.

Albert Ingegni III was applauded for four decades of service on the Zoning Board of Appeals during City Council. Mayor Peter Marchetti presented him with a certificate of thanks for his commitment to the community.

"It's not every day that you get to stand before the City Council in honor of a Pittsfield citizen who has dedicated 40 years of his life serving on a board or commission," he said.

"As we say that, I know that there are many people that want to serve on boards and commissions and this office will take any resume that there is and evaluate each person but tonight, we're here to honor Albert Ingegni."

The honoree is currently chair of the ZBA, which handles applicants who are appealing a decision or asking for a variance.

Ingegni said he was thinking on the ride over about his late father-in-law, former Mayor Remo Del Gallo, who told him to "enjoy every moment of it because it goes really quickly."

"He was right," he said. "Thank you all."

The council accepted $18,000 from the state Department of Conservation and Recreation and a  $310,060 from the U.S. Department of Transportation's Safe Streets and Roads for All program.