Pittsfield City Council Accepts Airport Funds, Honors Late PHS Teacher
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The City Council last Tuesday accepted a $2.4 million federal grant for a new taxiway at the Pittsfield Municipal Airport, a project that will only require 2.5 percent support from Pittsfield.
"This is a great deal for the city of Pittsfield, and our airport has come a long way in a very short time," Ward 7 Councilor Katherine Moody said.
Councilors accepted $2,394,570 from the Department of Transportation Federal Aviation Administration, and approved an order to borrow $2,520,600 for the construction of Taxiway A at the airport.
Moody was referring to the fact that 95 percent, or $2,394,570, is covered by the FAA. The remaining costs are split between Massachusetts and Pittsfield; 2.5 percent each.
That brings the city's contribution to a little more than $63,000.
The project will reconstruct, mark, light, and sign the new taxiway, which will also require pavement removal, excavation, pavement construction, installation of electrical and drainage infrastructure, pavement markings, seeding, and more.
Bidding was recently completed at $2,150,490.65 and, combined with engineering services and administrative costs, the project totaled $2,520,600.
At the beginning of the meeting, Councilor at Large Kathy Amuso paid tribute to a longtime friend of hers and many others, Colleen Quinn, who died on May 20 at the age of 69 after a brief battle with cancer.
Amuso described the loss of the longtime Pittsfield High School art teacher as devastating to the community.
"I felt it was important to let our community know who Colleen was and how important she was to our community," she said.
"Colleen had a unique ability to connect with every student at Pittsfield High. She made each student feel special."
Quinn's wake drew crowds around the block at St. Joseph's Church all evening as family, friends, colleagues, and students said goodbye. T-shirts have also been created in her honor, and a lantern lighting ceremony was held.
Amuso read a couple of the many tributes made to Quinn on social media last week, including one from her own son. He wrote that he was so grateful to be able to call Quinn a role model and thanked her for all of the light she has brought into this world.
"This community lost one of its best, and Colleen was always about being kind, so please go out and do something kind for somebody. The world would be a better place," she said.
"And rest in peace, Colleen."
