Pittsfield Inauguration Includes State of the City Address

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
02:30PM / Saturday, January 03, 2026Print Story | Email Story

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — On Monday, a largely similar City Council will be inaugurated, along with an almost completely new School Committee.

The ceremony kicks off elected officials' two-year terms. City Clerk Michele Benjamin, at-large and ward councilors, and School Committee members will be sworn in at 10 a.m. on Jan. 5 in the council chambers at City Hall.

Many familiar faces will return to represent Pittsfield constituents, as only two councilors will be new.

Earl Persip III, Peter White, Alisa Costa, and Kathleen Amuso held their seats as councilors at large during the municipal election on Nov. 4. There were no races for Wards 1, 3, and 4. Patrick Kavey was re-elected to Ward 5 and Dina Lampiasi to Ward 6 over challengers Michael Grady and Walter Powell, respectively.

Vacancies in the remaining wards were filled by newcomers. Katherine Nagy Moody secured representation of Ward 7 over Anthony Maffuccio, and Cameron Cunningham the Ward 2 seat over Corey Walker.

Brittany Noto did not seek re-election in Ward 2, and Rhonda Serre stepped down from her Ward 7 seat in the fall to work in the Pittsfield Public Schools.

The School Committee will only see one incumbent, Daniel Elias, on the six-member body. Ciara Batory, Sarah Muil, Katherine Yon, Heather McNeice, and Carolyn Barry were also elected, ousting Jacob Klein, Geoffrey Buerger, and Vicky Smith.

Exiting the School Committee will be Chair William Cameron, Diana Belair, William Garrity, Sara Hathaway, and Dominick Sacco, who did not run for re-election. Hathaway ran unsuccessfully for councilor at large.

This was a significant turnout for the School Committee during an eventful year that included the middle school restructuring, the proposal to rebuild and consolidate Crosby Elementary School and Conte Community School on West Street, and the staffing controversy that Pittsfield High School became embroiled in in late 2024.

The council will also elect a president and vice president, and Mayor Peter Marchetti will give an inaugural and state of the city address. Community members are invited to join the ceremony in person, and it will be live broadcast on Pittsfield Community Television.

White served as president for the 2024-2025 term, and Persip as vice president.

The annual state of the city address given by the mayor gives reflections on the municipality's year and outlines priorities for the new year.

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Pittsfield Swears in City Council, School Committee

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
04:19PM / Monday, January 05, 2026

Earl Persip III is sworn in as president, above; Peter White, right, takes the oath for vice president after beating out Dina Lampiasi for the post.

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The city welcomed both new and familiar leadership for the next two years during its inauguration ceremony on Monday.

There were contested races for School Committee chair and vice president of the City Council. Councilor at Large Earl Persip III, was elected president of the council, Councilor at Large Peter White vice president, and Mayor Peter Marchetti was elected to chair the School Committee, the first mayor to sit as chair in nearly 30 years.

"As I think I have stated to most of you, I hold this role very similar to the way that I've held the role of council president. This seat does not make motions," Marchetti said, who is halfway through his four-year term.

"This seat is a voting member. The seat doesn't debate from the chair and doesn't make motions."

Persip was elected president unanimously as he approaches a decade on the council. He was nominated by White, the former president.

"I want to thank the residents of Pittsfield for electing me again. It's important that representation matters, and I'm glad I'm able to serve you and do the work I'm allowed to do," Persip said during the ceremony.

"I'm also to the City Council that elected me as president. Your faith in me makes me feel good about what is happening and Pittsfield."

City Clerk Michele Benjamin, the City Council, and School Committee members took the oath of office in front of a packed council chambers. The council composition is largely the same except for two new ward councilors, while the School Committee has only one returning member.

Newcomers Ward 7 Councilor Katherine Nagy Moody and Ward 2 Councilor Cameron Cunningham were sworn into their first terms after winning the open seats.

Persip, White, Alisa Costa, and Kathleen Amuso held their seats as councilors at large during the municipal election on Nov. 4.

Ward 1 Councilor Kenneth Warren, Ward 3 Councilor Matthew Wrinn and Ward 4 Councilor James Conant ran unopposed, and Ward 5 Councilor Patrick Kavey and Ward 6 Councilor Dina Lampiasi fended off challengers to return to office.

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