PITTSFIELD, Mass. — There was a mini revolt by three city councilors on Tuesday night who were unhappy with their subcommittee assignments.
Councilors Helen Moon, Keven Morandi, and Chris Connell voted against the assignments and asked Council President Peter Marchetti to reconsider his selections.
"I think we can get a little bit more of a happy medium with these assignments," Connell said.
The Ward 4 councilor said he did talk with Marchetti, who had agreed to take another look at the assignments.
"He has indicated to me that he is willing to look at these and possibly make some changes," he said. "So I am not voting for this the way it is and I am hoping he will stay true to his word."
Morandi, of Ward 2, agreed and said he has always been contacted in the past before assignments were given.
As it stands Ward 3 Councilor Nicholas Caccamo will chair Ordinance & Rules and Councilor at Large Peter White will serve as vice chairman; Councilor at Large Earl Persip, Ward 5 Councilor Patrick Kavey, and Ward 7 Councilor Anthony Maffuccio will also serve.
Marchetti will chair the Finance Subcommittee and Persip will serve as vice chairman; they will be joined by Councilor at Large Yuki Cohen, White, and Morandi.
Persip will chair the Community & Economic Development subcommittee with Caccamo as vice chairman; Ward 1 Councilor Moon, Kavey, and Ward 6 Councilor Dina Guiel Lampiasi will join them.
Moon will chair the Public Health & Safety subcommittee, Maffuccio will be vice chairman and they will be joined by Connell, Cohen, and Morandi.
White will chair the Public Works Subcommittee, Maffuccio will serve as vice chair and members will be Kavey, Lampiasi, and Connell.
Maffuccio will chair Public Buildings and Maintenance, Marchetti will be vice chairman, and members will be Morandi, Lampiasi, and Cohen.
The City Council split the meeting with an executive session that lasted over an hour. Although on the agenda it was listed as for the purpose of negotiations, the council clarified that it was actually for litigation.
Marchetti did check in with the city solicitor who said, in his opinion, it was still OK to enter into executive session.
Upon exiting, Marchetti noted that no more information could be provided.
"The reason the topic was not discussed was because it could adversely affect the city's position in litigation," he said.
He said no votes were taken.
• The City Council appointed Cynthia Taylor to the School Building Needs Commission.
• Thomas Goggins and Erin Sullivan were appointed to the Zoning Board of Appeals.
• Michael Blewitt was appointed to the Sister Cities Commission and Karen Roche to the Human Services Advisory Council.
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Dalton Planning Board OKs Gravel Company Permit
By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
DALTON, Mass. — The Planning Board approved the renewal of Nichols Sand and Gravel's special permit for earth removal.
The company, located at 190 Cleveland Road, operates a gravel pit there.
The hours of operation will remain 7 to 4 p.m. The commission approved owner Paul Nichols' request to allow trucks to depart the property in either direction.
Nichols has to apply for renewal of the special permit every year. The previous permit required the truck to exit the property to the right.
It makes more sense to go left if truck drivers have to go to the Pittsfield area, Nichols said. He has talked to the residents in the area and they are agreeable to the change.
Former residents requested this stipulation nearly 16 years ago to reduce the number of trucks using the residential street to avoid disturbing the quality of life and neighborhood.
There weren't any residents present during the meeting who expressed concerns regarding this change.
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