Pittsfield to Host a Community Input Session

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The City of Pittsfield Department of Community Development, in partnership with Central Berkshire Habitat for Humanity, has been working with an urban planning and design consulting team to discuss zoning in the Westside.
 
The next community input session will be held on Monday, April 8, 2024, at 6 p.m. at Conte Community School, 200 West Union Street, Pittsfield. Doors will open at 5:30 p.m.
 
This session will provide opportunities for attendees to be involved in an interactive mapping exercise while actively designing a neighborhood they want to see. Attendees will be able to share ideas about what they want their community to look like, including options for housing and small businesses.
 
Refreshments and childcare will be provided by Habitat. Pre-registration is required by calling Habitat at (413) 442-3181 extension 0 or by emailing Connecting@berkshirehabitat.org. You can also preregister here: https://berkshirehabitat.org/community-meeting/
 
For more information, please call the City Planner, Jacinta Williams, at (413) 499-9366 or email at jwilliams@cityofpittsfield.org.
If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

New Pittsfield City Council, School Committee Meets

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The new City Council and School Committee met for the first time last week, and were met with some hope from the public. 

The council is largely the same as the last term, with Cameron Cunningham now representing Ward 2 and Kathy Moody Ward 7. On the other hand, the School Committee is all new aside from longtime member Daniel Elias. 

Resident Paul Gregory, a regular at public comment, told the council, "I stand here tonight, I'm excited. I'm not complaining." Gregory said that with challenges come opportunities, and he is confident that the elected officials are up for it. 

"I'm really, really looking forward to the leadership and the roles that each of you will play in order to bring out the best that Pittsfield is and can be," he said. 

"We need to stress our values as a city. We need to recognize and identify why people should live in this city and what opportunities there are both for entertainment, for employment, and for activities." 

Councilor at Large Earl Persip III was elected council president during the inauguration ceremony earlier this month, and Mayor Peter Marchetti was elected to chair the School Committee. During the committee's meeting on Wednesday, Marchetti noted that this would be the last time "communication by the chair" will be placed on the agenda because he will deliver comments as other members do. 

United Educators of Pittsfield President Jeanne Lemmond, also offered well wishes to the School Committee. 

"It's going to be an interesting time working with so many new faces, and the UEP is looking forward to a very positive working relationship with you as we go into negotiations and any other business that we bring forward to you," she said. 

Gregory, who also addressed the School Committee, hopes they work collaboratively to support each other, especially with the district's "ambitious" efforts to restructure the middle school levels and build a new school in the West Side. 

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