PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The City Council has voted to create a committee that handles the Berkshire Carousel offer — but not without debate on procedural details.

Last month, a conveyance and donation of the $267,000 property owned by James Shulman came to the council.  A 2025 operational model and budget put forward by the donors costs about $61,000 annually and brings in the same amount of money, with a $25,000 income from rides alone if they cost one dollar.

Ward 1 Councilor Kenneth Warren wanted more intel before the committee's first meeting in January, specifically the condition of any state grants received for the project, a reasonable list of operations, and an informal quote for the cost of removal.

"Everybody wants to do this. There's no doubt about it," Warren said. "The issue is whether it's feasible and whether we have a financial wherewithal to do that."

Ultimately, his motion to amend the referral with these conditions did not pass. Councilors agreed that there are a lot of red flags in the contract but trust that they will be addressed in the process.

"I thought I was clear of setting up a committee to figure out how to save the carousel, not who was going to own it, what the contract was," Mayor Peter Marchetti said.

"Because, quite frankly, I'll be blunt, the members of the Finance Committee punted it back to me without saying, 'Here are the conditions that we don't like.'"

Warren thought the committee would assist in negotiations with Shulman, who does not live in the area. He explained, "I don't want to ask the committee. I want us to know and these are things we can find out."