Taconic High School Project Budget Expected Monday

By Andy McKeeveriBerkshires Staff
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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The final design and budget to build a new Taconic High School will be presented on Monday.
 
"We are at a point where we are making crucial decisions," said Superintendent Jason McCandless.
 
Estimators will provide a proposed budget for the project at the School Building Needs Commission meeting on the Monday, March 2, at 5:15 in the Pittsfield High School library. So far, the project has been estimated at $115 million, with the city paying about $45 million.
 
McCandless said the project has been redrafted slightly since the last time it was presented. Consultants were expected to have a draft budget on Feb.9 but that meeting was canceled because of the weather.
 
"That meeting you will hear the final design and budget for the new Taconic High School," said School Committee Chairwoman Katherine Yon.
 
The commission will see the budget and final design specs and, on Monday, March 9, they are expected to vote on it. In April, the City Council will be asked to borrow the total amount of the budget. The state will reimburse the city throughout the course of the project.
 
"This is likely the most important meeting we've had thus far," McCandless said of the decadelong process. 
 
The commission has already chosen to go with a construction manager at risk, which means once the budget is approved it can't change. The construction manager assumes the risks of change orders. 
 
"It will not go above that final budget," McCandless said.

Tags: school building committee,   school project,   Taconic High,   

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Pittsfield ZBA Member Recognized for 40 Years of Service

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

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.

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