Pittsfield Offers Public Services Job To Former Newton Commissioner

By Andy McKeeveriBerkshires Staff
11:34AM / Friday, August 21, 2015Print Story | Email Story

David Turocy from Newton accepted the position.

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The city may finally appoint a director of public services.

David Turocy will fill the job created in 2011 but never filled. The city changed the structure of the department to include a commissioner to oversee utilities and another to oversee public services. Bruce Collingwood has been overseeing both and will now be the commissioner of public utilities.

Turocy's appointment will go to the City Council on Sept. 8 and he is expected to start on Sept. 14. He'll oversee all highway operations and personnel.

"He comes with a wealth of experience," Mayor Daniel Bianchi said.

The mayor said he was chosen after the job had been posted numerous times with little interest or qualified candidates. In the latest attempt to fill the position, Turocy was selected after two interviews — one with a search committee and then one with Bianchi, Downtown Pittsfield Inc. representatives, and City Council Vice President Christopher Connell.

Turocy comes from Newton after 11 years. He was appointed commissioner of public works there in 2011.

However, earlier this year, he was inexplicably fired and replaced. Newton Mayor Setti Warren wrote a letter on June 23 to the Newton Board of Aldermen there announcing that effective immediately Turocy was no longer the commissioner. In the same letter, he announced the appointment of an interim and Turocy's successor, who started on July 21.

Previous to his work in Newton, Turocy worked eight years as the highway and ground superintendent in Concord. Prior to that he spent seven years in Lexington was the highway and drains superintendent.

"My past experiences have given me the opportunity to demonstrate my personal strengths as well as exhibit my dedication to improving the quality of life for the residents where I work," Turocy wrote in his cover letter. "I have the ability, desire, and drive to excel as Pittsfield's commissioner."

His education includes a bachelor's of science from the University of Pittsburgh and a master's in public administration from Western New England College.

Tags: appointments, public services,

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Pittsfield Considers Repairing East Part Cemetery

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
06:57AM / Friday, October 02, 2026

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Historical Commission will consider grant opportunities for repairs to East Part Cemetery.

A resident reached out to the city with concerns about degradation in the half-acre burial ground at the top of Williams Street. East Part Cemetery was established in the early 1800s and has about 300 interments.

“It's a nice old cemetery, and basically, (the resident) had had concerns that the stone wall had taken some damage, the gravestones have taken some damage, and was wondering if there's anything that could be done to repair the gravestones and the wall," City Planner Kevin Rayner told the commission on Monday.

In cooperation with cemetery leadership and residents, the Historical Commission will consider applying for Community Preservation Act funds to support repairs. West Part Cemetery, on the other side of Pittsfield, has previously used CPA funds for revitalization work.

The 1080 Williams St. property is owned by the city and managed by the Pittsfield Cemetery Commission. Rayner presented photos of broken and overgrown gravestones, parts of the stone wall collapsing, and knocked-over obelisks.

Some aspects could use general maintenance and restoration, he observed.

According to the Pittsfield Cemetery and Crematory's website, East Part Cemetery was established around 1808 on land owned by Nathan Webb, who permitted and authorized its use as a public burying ground.

In 1842, Nathan Webb's son, also named Nathan Webb, deeded the property to the Methodist Episcopal Society of Pittsfield as a public burying ground, and in 1893 the Trustees of the Methodist Episcopal Society transferred their control of the cemetery to the Proprietors of the Pittsfield Cemetery. Their action was confirmed by the Berkshire Probate Court.