Letter: Vote Yes on Pittsfield's Question 5

To the Editor:

I'm a local real estate broker/owner of Gile Real Estate. As a broker, I see the money that we've given to other [Community Preservation Act] communities for the past 16 years in real estate document recording fees ($170 every time a property is purchased.)

Only the communities that have adopted CPA can access this state-matched fund that they're already paying into. In 2015, we estimate that 1,702 properties were sold in Pittsfield. At $170 each in document recording fees, that comes to $289,340 that was given away. And that is only properties that sold through the Berkshire Board of Realtors.

Based on last year's data, if we already had CPA, the local fund for Pittsfield would've generated approximately $497,546 for 2015 ($383,613 from local taxpayers plus the state match of $113,933; totaling $497,546). This doesn't include funds that come from larger grants and use CPA funds as the city's matching portion. Also the first $100,000 of assessed value is exempt for everyone, as are low-moderate income seniors, low-income residents.

We can finally use the millions that we have been giving away since 2000, when CPA began. The use of this locally controlled money is a fair and transparent process! Please vote yes on Question 5 in November and visit www.preservepittsfield.org to learn more and to see actual ballot language.
 

Beth VanNess
Broker/Owner Gile Real Estate
Pittsfield, Mass.

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.