Pittsfield Pumps Brakes On Safe Routes To School Project

The City Council opted to send consideration on two portions of the project to the subcommittee level.

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A proposal to turn South Atlantic Street into a one-way has raised ire from the nearby residents.

The City Council on Tuesday sent the proposal to the Traffic Commission for review after multiple residents expressed concern with the issue.

The proposal is one facet of a project that intends to create safer walking routes for the students attending Silvo O. Conte Community School.

The project is being paid with a $608,000 state grant that is currently planned to add a sidewalk to South Atlantic Street so students do not have to cross traffic after being dropped off. The entire project includes creating a safe route to Linden Street.

"To me, it is just going to cause deadlock," said resident Mark Dean, arguing against creating the one-way. "I just feel that a one-way street is not going to solve the issue."

Dean said the project will make it less safe by increasing congestion. Resident Shirley Pierce Robinson called the making the one-way "a big mistake."

Ward 6 Councilor John Krol sided with the residents saying there were many problems with communication between the state and the residents. For example, Krol was only notified of a public hearing in December the day it was scheduled and he was unable to attend. He called for further vetting of the traffic issues, with which the rest of council agreed.

"The whole project is set up to help walkers and help students get to school that way," Krol said. "I'd really like an opportunity for this to be fully vetted."

The project also calls for temporary easements on about a dozen properties to allow construction workers access but the sidewalks will be built in the current rights of way.

Another aspect of the project to accept West Union Street from Pacific Street to Conte was approved by the council.

The council also approved a 2.5 percent increase in water and sewer rates, a small amount of what is to come in the future. Commissioner of Public Utilities Bruce Collingwood said he expects the city to hike rates by nearly 5 percent next year and that hike will get steeper and steeper for years after.

The Berkshire Force softball team was honored by Mayor Daniel Bianchi and the City Council prior to Tuesday's meeting.

Collingwood said he held water and sewer rates as low as possible but the increase is needed to support capital improvements — the majority of which are required by the state. The city needs major repairs on reservoir dams and the waste-water treatment plant.

"We will still have the lowest metered rates in the state," Collingwood said.

Nearly the entire increase will go toward debt services for those capital projects.

The council tabled requests to borrow about $20 million to pay for two of those projects — improvements to the waste-water treatment center and the Farnham Reservoir Dam. The council tabled them so they would have more time to review the projects.

The council accepted a $55,000 grant from the state Life Science Center. The mayor has been working with the Pittsfield Economic Development Authority in getting a science incubator building constructed at the William Stanley Business Park.

The council also voted to send a $30,000 grant from the state Historical Commission to the Finance Committee. The grant is eyed to analyze the Springside House.

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.