Pittsfield Council OKs Privacy Measure, Sees Bridge Update
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The City Council is taking steps to protect its own privacy, as well as public comment speakers' privacy.
On Tuesday, councilors voted to remove their home addresses from city documents and websites and replace them with 70 Allen St., or City Hall, to improve safety. It was brought forward by Ward 4 Councilor James Conant, Ward 7 Councilor Katherine Moody, Ward 1 Councilor Kenneth Warren, and Ward 2 Councilor Cameron Cunningham.
"This is an easy proposal to support," Ward 6 Councilor Dina Lampiasi said.
While this doesn't completely block their addresses from public view, as they are listed elsewhere as residents, it makes them a little harder to access.
Moody pointed out that a Virginia city councilor was set on fire last year by a member of the public. NBC News reported that the attack stemmed from a personal matter.
"I don't think anybody worries about me being able to defend myself, but I do have children, and I worry for them," Moody explained.
Warren pointed out that they have done the same for those who speak at public comment. When he was first elected into office years ago, people picketed at his home for his stance on a School Committee issue.
"Back then, it wasn't that big a deal. Now we find ourselves in very divisive times," Warren said.
"Who knows whether things could get out of control."
Earlier this year, the council voted to amend City Council Rule 1C, which formerly required individuals to disclose their name, address, and the subject they wished to address on a sheet before the open microphone portion of meetings. Now, public comment speakers must only provide their name and municipality of residence.
Conant said this is the start of a number of initiatives he is considering bringing forward, and this shields home addresses from AI sweeps.
The council also saw an update on the Dalton Avenue bridge repair led by the state Department of Transportation. It was referred to the Public Works subcommittee.
In April, Warren and Cunningham requested an update on the current condition of the Dalton Avenue bridge overpass and rehabilitation plan.
"It's falling apart, and they've cordoned off a section of it. It's in really bad condition, so as we've done with other bridges in the city, it takes forever. This is a major. This is one of the most major bridges we have in the city, so we wanted to focus on it," Warren said.
"We got to reply from the state. We want to have the city look at it further, to advise us of how we can keep pressure on the state, because they literally narrow one of the wings."
Parts of the bridge's concrete sides appear to be crumbling, exposing rusted steel supports. A representative from MassDOT communicated to the city clerk that the project will be combined with the connection to the Ashuwillticook Rail Trail and accessibility improvements.
"There has been an ongoing spalling issue. This has been most severe at the bridge rail on the south side of the bridge. Protective netting was installed as part of the Ashwilliticook Rail Trail Extension. The netting is working as designed," District 1 Bridge Engineer Mark DeVylder wrote in late April.
"This past winter, we saw additional extensive deterioration of the south rail, to the point that a section about 2 [feet] long had completely disappeared due to the spalling. As a result of this, concrete barriers were placed in front of the rail. MassDOT has identified a method for removing a majority of the loose concrete that is currently in the netting. We anticipate that this work would be done in the next couple of weeks."
Tags: bridge work,
