Pittsfield Announces North Pole Calling Program

01:38PM / Monday, November 17, 2025Print Story | Email Story

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The City of Pittsfield's Department of Community Development Recreation Program will be conducting the 44th annual North Pole Calling Program on Wednesday, Dec. 10, and Thursday, Dec. 11, from 5:00 – 7:30 p.m.

Fillable forms that can be saved and emailed are available through a link on the city website at North Pole Calling Program (pittsfieldma.gov).

Hard copy forms are also available at the City Clerk's Office in room 103 of City Hall, 70 Allen Street, as well as in the Department of Community Development, room 205.

Completed forms must be returned to City Hall or submitted online by Tuesday, December 9.

Please email completed forms to Jennifer VanBramer, Recreation and Special Events Coordinator, at jvanbramer@cityfofpittsfield.org.

Forms can also be mailed to:

Jennifer VanBramer

70 Allen St. Pittsfield, MA, 01201

Department of Community Development, Room 205

Do not send completed registration forms to the child's school.

This program is for City of Pittsfield children in pre-kindergarten through second grade. If older Pittsfield children still believe, please send in a form for them.

For questions, please call (413) 499-9371.

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Pittsfield Council Revisiting DEI Office Restructure

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
04:11PM / Tuesday, October 13, 2026

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The conversation about the DEI office renaming that was halted by a charter objection will resume on Tuesday.

The City Council will discuss a request from Mayor Peter Marchetti to restructure the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.

It proposes to rename the DEI office to the Office of Equity, Access, and Opportunity and merge the Human Rights Commission and Affirmative Action Committee into an Equity, Access and Opportunity Commission.

The Ordinance and Rules Subcommittee supported the changes in August, and in September, Ward 2 Councilor Cameron Cunningham delayed the vote with a charter objection.

Pittsfield's City Code prohibits charter states that "if a single member present objects to the taking of the vote, the vote shall be postponed until the next meeting of the city council." It also stipulates that at least four members must object if it is an emergency measure.

Cunningham also submitted a petition, which was referred to O&R under Rule 27, to replace the DEI Office and the Human Rights Commission with an equity, access, and opportunity coordinator in the Department of Community Development, with formal complaints and Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action functions assigned to Human Resources.

At the last meeting, he spent more than an hour querying the mayor and chief diversity officer about functions and effectiveness of the department, wanting more quantitative data. Cunningham proposed an ordinance that he says keeps Pittsfield's commitment to equity, access, and opportunity, "refocuses it on measurable results for our residents, and delivers it at a fraction of the current cost."

Under this petition, the equity, access, and opportunity coordinator would be a $60,000 to $80,000 per year position.

The DEI Office's fiscal year 2027 budget was about $200,000 after cuts during budget season; $106,700 for the chief diversity officer and $58,000 for the administrative assistant. The coordinator would be appointed by the director of community development and the mayor.

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