PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Councilors believe they have the right to keep their home address off work documents. 

Last week, the Ordinances and Rules subcommittee voted to remove city councilors' addresses from public documents and create a Lake Management Commission for Pittsfield's waterbodies. 

Ward 4 Councilor James Conant, Ward 7 Councilor Katherine Moody, Ward 1 Councilor Kenneth Warren, and Ward 2 Councilor Cameron Cunningham submitted a request to remove councilors' addresses from city documents and websites and replace them with 70 Allen St., or City Hall, to improve safety. 

"As we know, especially over the weekend, there's just increasing violence in America at every level, from the president right on down. Governors, judges, mayors, city councilors," Conant said. 

"I feel that we can increase our security by stopping using our home addresses on city-issued websites and paperwork." 

City Solicitor Jeffrey Grandchamp pointed out that this will not prevent the city officials' addresses from becoming public, as their addresses are listed elsewhere as residents. 

Conant proposed to make it optional. 

Councilors couldn't find anything in the city code that requires them to use home addresses. Ward 5 Councilor Patrick Kavey pointed out that when you run for office, the City Clerk verifies your address and residency. 

"Looking at what other communities do, it does, again, look like we're kind of in the minority in terms of how much information we're putting out to the public," Ward 6 Councilor Dina Lampiasi observed.