Pittsfield Debates Control Over School Department Budget

By Andy McKeeveriBerkshires Staff
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The City Council sent the petition to the Ordinance and Rules subcommittee.
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The City Council is looking to take the final say over the school budget away from the mayor.
 
Councilor at Large Churchill Cotton filed a petition that allows a supermajority of the City Council to approve a school budget higher than the mayoral recommendation.
 
Currently, the City Council only has the power to approve or deny the mayor's school budget request.
 
"I would like to have the opportunity for the School Committee to make its case to the City Council for more funding," Cotton said.
 
The petition was referred to the Rules and Ordinance Committee to be vetted more thoroughly.
 
The adoption of a state law would allow the council to approve up to the School Committee's request. Councilors say they may not ever have to invoke the rule but the option would be there to prevent cuts to the school budget the councilors don't want.
 
"I'm worried about the future. What if you get a mayor who is very much anti-education or school department and wants to make dramatic cuts?" said Councilor at Large Barry Clairmont, who said he'd like to see City Council have the power to override the mayor in all department budgets.
 
Ward 5 Councilor Jonathan Lothrop said the City Council has been acting like it had already been adopted and it has proven to be beneficial. A few years ago the mayor and the superintendent had a $1 million difference in their budget requests. Operating under the impression that the City Council made the ultimate decision, the two sides reached a compromise, Lothrop said.
 
But, it turns out the City Council had only talked about adopting the law
 
"It was a little bit of a surprise to me to find out that although the City Council discussed the matter, we didn't adopt it," Lothrop said.
 
Ward 3 Councilor Nicholas Caccamo said the ability to override a mayor is an "ace up the sleeve." 
 
Others said the move will bring more voices into the discussion. 
 
"This brings more people into the conversation," Krol said. "Right now, there is one person who creates the budget." 
 
He said if the eight members of the City Council and a majority of the School Committee agree with a budget total, they should have the power to override a mayoral request.
 
School Committee Chairwoman Kathrine Yon said 12 elected officials would have to approve the budget in order to override the mayor.
 
The Council's request comes just two weeks after many councilors voiced their frustration that the mayor did not include them in a change to employee health insurance plans. Before that, some councilors were frustrated that the mayor invoked the administrative power to sign a short-term lease to move the inspections department out of the City Hall basement.
 
And the move also comes months after voters approved a new charter that outlines the roles of government bodies and style of government the city operates.
 
Councilor at Large Kathleen Amuso and Ward 2 Councilor Kevin Morandi both said they didn't see the need for adopting the law. The mayor and the superintendent of schools work closely on the budget already.
 
"I also feel this mayor and this City Council has certainly supported education," Morandi said. "I will not support this because the way it has been done has worked."

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MassDOT Project Will Affect Traffic Near BMC

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Prepare for traffic impacts around Berkshire Medical Center through May for a state Department of Transportation project to improve situations and intersections on North Street and First Street.

Because of this, traffic will be reduced to one lane of travel on First Street (U.S. Route 7) and North Street between Burbank Street and Abbott Street from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday through at least May 6.

BMC and Medical Arts Complex parking areas remain open and detours may be in place at certain times. The city will provide additional updates on changes to traffic patterns in the area as construction progresses.

The project has been a few years in the making, with a public hearing dating back to 2021. It aims to increase safety for all modes of transportation and improve intersection operation.

It consists of intersection widening and signalization improvements at First and Tyler streets, the conversion of North Street between Tyler and Stoddard Avenue to serve one-way southbound traffic only, intersection improvements at Charles Street and North Street, intersection improvements at Springside Avenue and North Street, and the construction of a roundabout at the intersection of First Street, North Street, Stoddard Avenue, and the Berkshire Medical Center entrance.

Work also includes the construction of 5-foot bike lanes and 5-foot sidewalks with ADA-compliant curb ramps.  

Last year, the City Council approved multiple orders for the state project: five orders of takings for intersection and signal improvements at First Street and North Street. 

The total amount identified for permanent and temporary takings is $397,200, with $200,000 allocated by the council and the additional monies coming from carryover Chapter 90 funding. The state Transportation Improvement Plan is paying for the project and the city is responsible for 20 percent of the design cost and rights-of-way takings.

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