Pittsfield City Council Tackles Diversity Referrals, Thrift Shop License
PITTSFIELD, Mass. The City Council tackled around a dozen agenda items in two and a half hours on Tuesday.
While a large portion of the conversation was centered around Councilor Karen Kalinowsky's attempt to place a question on the Nov. 7 ballot about the reconfiguration of North Street, there were several referrals and a Pawnbrokers and Secondhand Dealers License approval for a new second-hand shop.
Resident Alfred Shugrue plans to sell new and used merchandise at Other People's Stuff, located at 360 Tyler Street. This includes electronics, jewelry, furniture, game systems, household items, toys, records, and books.
"I am just looking to open up a store so I can see used electronics, used jewelry, antiques, and stuff," he explained. "I have been doing this now for quite a few years."
Also, a request to create a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion ambassador program was referred to the Ordinances and Rules subcommittee. The ambassadors' job is to assist the department in creating a welcoming and inclusive work environment for all city employees.
2022 was the office's inaugural year. The City Council approved a new six-month budget of $99,760 for the department during its fiscal 2022 budget process and a $169,416 budget for fiscal 2023.
Chief Diversity Officer Michael Obasohan was appointed to lead the department about a year ago. In December, he said that the work that has been done internally within the city departments and externally with other organizations has been very successful.
Also on the night, a request to increase bilingual proficiency compensation was also referred to the subcommittee.
The ordinance was originally approved in 2020, offering an extra $125 a month for either oral or reading/written fluency, or $175 for both oral and written fluency.
"I believe an increase is warranted given the increased requests our bilingual employees have received from their respective departments and others for translation services," Human Resources Director Michael Taylor wrote.
"Additionally, I have made minor changes to the eligibility section of the ordinance, specifically removing the provision that requires a bilingual individual to be employed for one year to be eligible for compensation under this policy."
The proposed increase would compensate an extra $175 a month for oral or reading/written fluency and $225 a month for oral and written fluency.
A request from Ward 2 Councilor Charles Kronick to use Chapter 90 funds for the repair and repaving of ten streets was referred to Commissioner of Public Services and Utilities Ricardo Morales and the public works subcommittee.
The councilor claimed that he had provided such a list last year without avail and that the ward has received only three percent of Chapter 90 road work. Some of the ward is in a qualified census tract that is eligible for other sources of funding to address roads.
The requested roads are:
• Third Street
• Delaware Ave
• Rhode Island
• Virginia Ave
• Tyler Street Extension
• Maryland Ave (with curbs to direct flow to distant drains)
• Yorkshire Ave (curbs only)
• California Ave
• Brown Street (sections)
• Kensington Ave
During open microphone, Delaware Avenue resident Michael Barosso spoke in support of Kronick's road paving petition and his petition requesting a presentation from the Department of Environmental Protection on the state of the 2022 PCB testing "the GE site," meaning Hill 78 and Building 71 which are located behind Allendale Elementary School.
"We have been ignored for a long time," Barosso said about the ward.
Tags: DIRE, paving, thrift store,
