Pittsfield OKs Flag Ordinance

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The city has a new flag policy that stays true to its values and mission.

Flags such as the LGBTQ+ Pride, Juneteenth, and the Disability Pride Flag can still fly on municipal flag poles. 

Last week, the City Council established a flag display policy allowing Pittsfield's flag, the United States and commonwealth flags, flags of other nations recognized by the U.S. government, and flags commemorating significant events or causes consistent with the city's values and mission. 

The ordinance states that "Municipal flagpoles are not intended to serve as forums for free expression by the public," and that "All flag displays on municipal flagpoles constitute government speech." It will take effect on August 1. 

"I recognize and agree we absolutely need this policy," Ward 2 Councilor Brittany Noto said, noting "a similar case happened not too long ago in Boston." 

In 2022, the Supreme Judicial Court determined that the city of Boston violated the First Amendment by refusing to allow a religious organization to raise a religious flag and it had to pay out more than $2.1 million, according to the Associated Press. 

"I think that it's wise to do this, so thank you for doing this," she said to City Solicitor Devon Grierson. 

"The only thing that I wanted to bring to your attention, which we've discussed over email, is that I want to make sure there are checks and balances between the administration and city council when we refer to the ‘City of Pittsfield.’" 

She recommended stipulating that nothing should be construed to require the city to consider or grant any flag requests "from the public" and giving the council specific governance over flags in the ordinance. 

"We live in a very volatile, chaotic climate right now on the national level. We don't know who's going to get elected into office, and we don't know the type of person they're going to be," she said. 

"I want to make sure that it's not just the mayor who's in charge of this. I want to make sure the City Council, which is a body elected by the people, as is the mayor, has a say in these flags that get deemed part of the, I think the language was 'The city's values and mission.' I think that the mayor and the City Council should participate." 

It now stipulates: 

"The City of Pittsfield, by and through the mayor with City Council approval, retains sole discretion over the selection, scheduling, and duration of any flag displays on municipal flagpoles," in Section 20-106 (d) and, 

"Nothing in this ordinance shall be construed to require the City to display any particular flag or to consider or grant any requests to display flags from the public" in Section 20-108 (c.)

• How long has the property remained vacant?
• Who owns the property?
• What development programs, if any, has the property been subject to in the last 10 years, including but not limited to business loan programs, tax incentive programs, grants, and/or public works projects?
• Is the property currently facing any zoning, permitting, and/or Building Code obstacles?
• Is the property currently undergoing any renovation or construction? If so, how long has the property been under renovation or construction? 

Warren thinks this petition will enhance public confidence. 

"When we make decisions, it's important that we have data in front of us," Ward 5 Councilor Patrick Kavey said. 

"And I know that this data already exists, but hopefully this will make it easier having it all in one place and having it presented to us, and then we can make better decisions moving forward." 

Toys for Tots Bringing Presents to Thousands of Kids This Year

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff
12:21PM / Friday, December 05, 2025

Volunteers organize toys by age and gender in the House of Corrections storage facility. 

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Plenty of toys are on their way to children this holiday season thanks to Toys for Tots.

Christopher Keegan has coordinated the local toy drive for the Berkshire Chapter of the Marine Corps Reserve since 2015 and said he has seen the need rise every year, last year helping more than 6,000 kids.

"This is 11 years I've been doing it, and the need has gone up every year. It's gone up every year, and I anticipate it going up even more this year," Keegan said.

On Thursday, the Berkshire County House of Corrections storage facility was overflowing with toys making it the county's very own Santa's workshop. 

Keegan said Berkshire County always shows up with toys or donations. 

"This county is outstanding when it comes to charity. They rally around stuff. They're very giving, they're very generous, and they've been tremendous in this effort, the toys for pride effort, since I've been doing it, our goal is to honor every request, and we've always reached that goal," he said.

Keegan's team is about 20 to 25 volunteers who sort out toys based on age and gender. This week, the crew started collecting from the 230 or so boxes set out around the county on Oct. 1.

"The two age groups that are probably more difficult — there's a newborn to 2s, boys and girls, and 11 to 14, boys and girls. Those are the two challenging ages where we need to focus our attention on a little bit more," he said.

Toys For Tots has about 30 participating schools and agencies that sign up families and individuals who need help putting gifts under the tree. Keegan takes requests right up until the last minute on Christmas.

"We can go out shopping for Christmas. I had sent my daughter out Christmas Eve morning. Hey, we need X amount of toys and stuff, but the requests are still rolling in from individuals, and I don't say no, we'll make it work however we can," he said.

Community members help to raise money or bring in unopened and unused toys. Capeless Elementary student Thomas St. John recently raised $1,000 selling hot chocolate and used the money to buy toys for the drive.

"It's amazing how much it's grown and how broad it is, how many people who were involved," Keegan said.

On Saturday, Live 95.9 personalities Bryan Slater and Marjo Catalano of "Slater and Marjo in the Morning" will host a Toys for Tots challenge at The Hot Dog Ranch and Proprietor's Lodge. Keegan said they have been very supportive of the drive and that they were able to collect more than 3,000 toys for the drive last year.

Volunteer Debbie Melle has been volunteering with Toys for Tots in the county for about five years and said people really showed up to give this year.

"I absolutely love it. It's what we always say. It's organized chaos, but it's rewarding. And what I actually this year, I'm so surprised, because the amount that the community has given us, and you can see that when you see these pictures, that you've taken, this is probably the most toys we've ever gotten," she said. "So I don't know if people just feel like this is a time to give and they're just going above and beyond, but I'm blown away. This year we can barely walk down the aisles for how much, how many toys are here. It's wonderful."