PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The City Council breezed through 12 departmental budgets on the third day of hearings last week for fiscal year 2025. All were preliminarily approved with a unanimous vote.
During the finance and administration discussion, Councilor at Large Alisa Costa stressed the importance of livable wages for city workers. She acknowledged the city's support of raising salaries over the last few years but pointed out that a few positions are making less than $40,000 annually.
Finance Director Matthew Kerwood said all union positions are subject to collective bargaining "so what you see in terms of salaries before you are a result of the collective bargaining process which is agreed upon by both the union and management."
He added that all of the contracts are up at the end of this fiscal year and it will be a discussion point during negotiations "but I will not discuss management's bargaining position publicly."
Costa said a living-wage calculator provided by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology sets it at $21.83 per hour for a single adult in Pittsfield. She said many full-time positions in the city don't allow people to meet their needs while saving money.
"And if you want people to be able to afford taxes, to shop in our stores, we need to bring that up and I know it's a challenge because we have this tight budget but I would just urge you in those negotiations to consider those lower salaries first," she said.
Mayor Peter Marchetti said he appreciated the feedback but stressed that the budget was designed on the council's directive of being as close to level-funded as possible.
"My budget included a 5 percent increase as compared to the 10 percent increase the year prior so that's as close to a level-funded budget as I could get," he said. "Any negotiations that take place, if you want to put me under the same restraints next year, we'll make the decisions when we get there."
President Peter White said he agrees with Costa and pointed out that he didn't support the request for a level-funded budget knowing that there are areas that need to be increased.
"Making sure that we have employees that are paid enough to stay here is very important to me. Also as a union person myself, making sure that we have the employees here that do good work and are paid more for being here at City Hall for the work they do than what they could be making at some other local establishments and stores that are having trouble keeping people," he said.
"I think we need to make sure that we're doing everything we can to keep the best people here."
The Office of Cultural Development budget of $134,224 is a $1,726, or 1.27 percent decrease from the previous year. It was preliminarily approved with no discussion.
The decrease is due to a 7.8 percent reduction in the administrative assistant line and a complete reduction of telephone expenses.
Account Name
2021 Approval
2022 Approval
2023 Approval
2024 Approval
2025 Approval
Director
$59,350
$62,673
$67,373
$72,510
$74,759
Administrative Assistant
$33,523
$36,602
$37,633
$40,640
$37,465
Contractual Services
$4,000
$4,000
$4,000
$4,000
$4,000
Tourism Expenses
$14,000
$14,000
$14,000
$14,000
$14,000
Supplies
$3,000
$3,000
$3,000
$3,000
$3,000
Telephone
$800
$800
$800
$800
$0
Travel and Dues
$1,000
$1,000
$1,000
$1,000
$1,000
Total
$115,673
$122,075
$127,806
$135,950
$134,224
Emergency Management
The Emergency Management budget of $32,500 is a $3,098, or 10.54 percent, increase from the previous year. It was preliminarily approved with no discussion.
The increase is largely attributed to a $3,000 bump to the director of emergency management line.
Account Name
2021 Approval
2022 Approval
2023 Approval
2024 Approval
2025 Approval
Director of Emergency MGMT
$0
$0
$0
$0
$3,000
Education and Training
$500
$500
$500
$500
$500
Code Red
$23,000
$23,000
$23,000
$26,002
$26,100
Supplies
$100
$100
$100
$100
$100
Emergency Operating Center
$2,800
$2,800
$2,800
$2,800
$2,800
Total
$26,400
$26,400
$26,400
$29,402
$32,500
Fire
The Fire Department budget of $10,813,865 is a $341,250, or 3.26 percent, increase from the previous year. It was preliminarily approved with some discussion.
There is an over 56 percent jump in contractual services and communication expenses, which covers the internet, cell phones, the security system, the radio contract, the photocopier lease, and all annual service contracts.
Account Name
2021 Approval
2022 Approval
2023 Approval
2024 Approval
2025 Approval
Fire Chief
$114,800
$121,824
$130,961
$140,942
$145,316
Deputy Fire Chiefs
$424,663
$435,280
$455,000
$503,000
$637,000
Fire Captains
$1,134,882
$1,163,254
$1,193,519
$1,310,519
$1,344,519
Fire Lieutenants
$1,266,635
$1,298,300
$1,329,266
$1,452,000
$1,496,560
Firefighters
$4,298,751
$4,494,219
$4,716,103
$5,181,205
$5,292,829
Head Clerk
$35,288
$37,465
$34,247
$35,200
$36,422
Master Mechanic
$75,254
$76,759
$80,497
$78,851
$80,467
Principal Clerk
$28,821
$30,355
$32,654
$39,495
$40,866
Office Manager
$43,864
$44,978
$59,553
$66,399
$68,706
Emergency Apparatus Staffing
$30,000
$30,000
$30,000
$30,000
$30,000
Emergency Manning
$375,000
$450,000
$450,000
$625,000
$600,000
Assuming Additional Response
$20,000
$20,000
$20,000
$20,000
$20,000
Uniforms
$122,000
$122,000
$125,000
$125,000
$125,000
Maintenance General
$15,000
$15,000
$15,000
$18,000
$18,000
Vehicle Maintenance
$225,000
$225,000
$230,000
$250,000
$250,000
Medical Maintenance
$15,000
$15,000
$17,000
$17,000
$17,000
Education and Training
$22,000
$22,000
$25,000
$300,000
$300,000
Special Operations Training
$35,000
$35,000
$40,000
$121,000
$115,000
Supplies
$10,000
$10,000
$10,000
$10,000
$10,000
Equipment
$40,000
$40,000
$45,000
$50,000
$50,000
Equipment Replacement
$45,000
$45,000
$45,000
$50,000
$50,000
CAD License/Maint/Admin Fees
$50,000
$50,000
$55,000
$55,000
$86,180
Total
$8,426,958
$8,781,434
$9,138,800
$10,472,615
$10,813,865
Health Department
The Health Department budget of $675,901 is a $40,390, or 6.36 percent, increase over the previous year. It was preliminarily approved with little conversation.
The community health worker, previously funded by the American Rescue Plan Act, adds $24,850 to the spending plan.
"This role was created with ARPA funding back in 2022 and as we are no longer allowed to use ARPA funding after this calendar year, we want to continue to support this position with that," Director of Public Health Andy Cambi explained.
Account Name
2021 Approval
2022 Approval
2023 Approval
2024 Approval
2025 Approval
Board of Health Director
$71,814
$80,500
$83,743
$90,128
$92,922
Senior Sanitarian
$52,832
$57,411
$52,390
$64,701
$66,410
Animal Inspector
$4,500
$4,500
$4,500
$4,500
$4,500
Sanitarians
$94,174
$98,593
$93,810
$98,646
$102,513
Senior Code Enforcement Inspector
$48,703
$50,988
$49,020
$52,188
$53,567
Nuisance Control Officer
$37,657
$39,424
$37,901
$39,273
$41,418
Officer Manager
$40,850
$41,622
$43,408
$46,215
$47,435
Public Health Nurse
$68,690
$72,537
$77,352
$80,823
$84,864
Administrative Assistant
$36,911
$32,838
$34,248
$35,485
$35,485
Board of Health Clerk
$1,500
$1,500
$1,500
$1,500
$1,500
Licensed Social Worker
$0
$0
$75,000
$76,952
$80,800
Water Testing
$1,500
$1,500
$2,000
$2,000
$2,000
Uniforms
$1,700
$1,700
$1,700
$1,700
$1,700
Contractual Services
$2,000
$2,000
$3,000
$3,000
$3,000
Telephone
$1,700
$1,500
$1,500
$2,400
$0
Equipment Maintenance
$4,500
$3,000
$3,000
$6,500
$3,500
Education and Training
$2,000
$2,000
$4,000
$4,500
$4,500
Nuisance Abatement
$7,000
$5,000
$5,000
$4,000
$4,000
Code Enforcement
$3,000
$2,500
$2,500
$3,500
$2,500
Medical Supplies
$9,000
$9,000
$9,000
$15,000
$15,000
Supplies
$2,000
$2,000
$2,000
$2,500
$2,500
Total
$492,031
$510,113
$586,572
$635,511
$675,901
Building Maintenance City
The city building maintenance budget of $2,094,149 is a $37,162, or 1.81 percent, increase from the previous year. It was approved with Councilor at Large Earl Persip III asking questions about the boiler and HVAC repairman line being reduced to zero, the nearly $5,000 increase for a plumber, and the $10,000 addition for one seasonal laborer.
Account Name
2021 Approval
2022 Approval
2023 Approval
2024 Approval
2025 Approval
Director of Maintenance
$74,047
$79,263
$94,808
$102,535
$105,714
Boiler/HVAC Repairman
$46,232
$47,621
$49,759
$52,304
$0
Painter
$50,009
$47,648
$49,821
$103,175
$114,483
Working Foreman Craft
$57,410
$59,874
$62,444
$66,736
$70,114
Plumber
$110,741
$104,316
$109,539
$116,494
$121,410
Carpenters
$157,187
$163,799
$169,539
$182,764
$134,827
Principal Clerk
$41,213
$42,981
$44,827
$47,920
$50,332
HVAC Technician
$106,451
$110,303
$161,300
$159,666
$177,919
Custodian
$40,020
$35,380
$36,972
$43,349
$52,796
Office Manager
$54,753
$57,102
$59,553
$63,647
$66,869
Electricians
$161,873
$168,102
$173,466
$186,422
$209,485
Seasonal Labor
$0
$0
$0
$0
$10,000
Scheduled Overtime
$40,000
$40,000
$43,000
$45,000
$55,000
Custodial Labor Rentals
$25,000
$25,000
$25,000
$25,000
$25,000
Contractual Allowances
$4,500
$4,500
$4,500
$5,200
$5,200
Utilities
$560,000
$545,000
$545,000
$560,000
$585,000
Repairs Municipal
$263,026
$260,000
$275,000
$310,000
$310,000
Total
$1,792,462
$1,790,890
$1,904,053
$2,056,987
$2,094,149
Building Maintenance Schools
The school building maintenance budget of $900,000 is the same as the previous year and was preliminarily approved with no discussion.
Account Name
2021 Approval
2022 Approval
2023 Approval
2024 Approval
2025 Approval
Contractual Services
$375,000
$375,000
$425,000
$425,000
$475,000
Maintenance Supplies
$395,000
$395,000
$450,000
$475,000
$425,000
Total
$770,000
$770,000
$900,000
$900,000
$900,000
Building Inspections
The Building Inspector's Department budget of $677,108 is a $25,059, or 3.84 percent, increase from the previous year. It was preliminarily approved with little discussion.
Persip pointed out that the local building inspectors line item seemed "a little low" and Commissioner Jeffrey Clemons explained that two inspectors left and two will be starting soon.
Last year, the council approved the addition of two inspectors for code enforcement on multi-family homes. Clemons said they are doing "fairly well" considering the rotating team of inspectors.
"We've sent letters out to at least 200 since 2023, multifamily buildings. We inspected 84 multifamily buildings. The certified is in the 60s and 17 or so of them failed so they're ongoing inspections," he said, explaining that they are working with the owners to get the buildings in safe condition.
Account Name
2021 Approval
2022 Approval
2023 Approval
2024 Approval
2025 Approval
Senior Wire Inspector
$57,532
$58,395
$59,270
$63,410
$55,040
Building Commissioner
$76,398
$81,783
$87,917
$94,390
$97,317
Head Clerk
$36,061
$37,609
$40,015
$42,810
$46,166
Senior Clerk
$15,350
$29,543
$30,928
$34,668
$37,424
Building Inspectors
$163,757
$169,180
$270,735
$285,789
$306,718
Plumbing and Gas Inspector
$48,890
$50,987
$51,752
$55,367
$59,707
Inspector of Weights and Measures
$44,164
$46,059
$46,059
$50,015
$53,936
Temporary Labor
$4,800
$4,800
$4,800
$8,000
$8,000
Uniforms
$3,600
$3,600
$3,600
$4,800
$4,800
Telephone
$3,665
$3,666
$3,940
$4,800
$0
Supplies
$9,416
$6,000
$6,000
$8,000
$8,000
Total
$463,633
$491,622
$652,049
$652,049
$677,108
City Solicitor
The city solicitor budget of $269,379 is a $1,753, or .66 percent, increase over the previous year. It was preliminarily approved with no discussion.
Account Name
2021 Approval
2022 Approval
2023 Approval
2024 Approval
2025 Approval
City Solicitor
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
Assistant City Solicitor
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
Executive Legal Secretary
$46,873
$50,169
$53,932
$50,126
$51,879
Tax Title Litigation
$1,500
$5,000
$5,000
$5,000
$5,000
Supplies
$1,000
$500
$500
$500
$500
Law Library
$3,250
$0
$0
$0
$0
Legal Fees and Court Costs
$162,000
$170,000
$175,000
$210,000
$210,000
Legal Settlements
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
Equipment Maintenance
$2,800
$2,000
$2,000
$2,000
$2,000
Total
$219,746
$227,669
$236,432
$267,626
$269,379
IT
The Information Technology Department budget of $1,318,488 is a $51,395, or 4.1 percent, increase from the previous year. It was preliminarily approved with no discussion.
A typo in the city budget proposal originally had the public safety specialist salary listed at $79 and it was corrected to $79,702.
Account Name
2021 Approval
2022 Approval
2023 Approval
2024 Approval
2025 Approval
IT Manager
$78,815
$78,875
$84,790
$90,943
$93,763
IT Support Specialists II
$0
$71,000
$75,478
$81,629
$85,710
Info Systems Specialists
$129,245
$133,474
$136,000
$148,198
$156,298
IT Public Safety Specialist I
-
-
-
$66,479
$70,113
IT Business Analyst
$129,002
$126,611
$130,000
$75,907
$79,702
Computer Upgrade and Repair
$23,975
$27,500
$33,000
$37,950
$40,086
Computer License/Support
$266,000
$376,086
$498,233
$651,987
$631,315
Telephone/Internet
-
-
-
$113,000
$160,500
Supplies
$1,000
$1,000
$1,000
$1,000
$1,000
Total
$625,037
$814,546
$958,501
$1,267,093
$1,318,488
Workers Compensation
The worker's compensation budget of $700,000 is a $50,00 decrease from the previous year due to a reduction in independent medical reviews for employees who have led worker compensation or injured on duty claims. It was preliminarily approved with no discussion.
Account Name
2021 Approval
2022 Approval
2023 Approval
2024 Approval
2025 Approval
Compensation Payments
$275,000
$275,000
$275,000
$275,000
$275,000
Medical Payments
$225,000
$225,000
$225,000
$275,000
$225,000
Injured on Duty - Police and Fire
$150,000
$150,000
$150,000
$200,000
$200,000
Total
$650,000
$650,000
$650,000
$750,000
$700,000
Finance and Administration
The finance and administration budget of $1,435,380 is a $36,840, or 2.63 percent, increase over the previous year. It was preliminarily approved with little discussion.
Account Name
2021 Approval
2022 Approval
2023 Approval
2024 Approval
2025 Approval
City Accountant
$69,264
$73,143
$78,628
$79,104
$83,060
Administrative Assistant
$17,720
$33,741
$35,189
$35,485
$36,017
Chief Assessor
$80,185
$89,252
$91,785
$96,374
Assessors
$203,815
$71,050
$76,379
$73,331
$76,998
Treasurer
$93,577
$98,818
$106,229
$114,329
$117,875
Tax Collector
$68,592
$72,078
$77,484
$83,792
$87,982
Assistant Treasurer
$47,909
$49,965
$52,109
$55,477
$56,309
Assistant Tax Collector
$25,274
$43,627
$45,499
$48,440
$49,167
Purchasing Agent
$69,963
$73,518
$79,032
$85,473
$89,747
Deputy Purchasing Agent
$39,004
$44,579
$47,922
$50,126
$53,441
Head Clerk
$35,096
$36,602
$33,331
$39,552
$40,146
Account Clerk-Assessor
$34,383
$43,627
$45,499
$48,440
$49,167
Buyer
$30,551
$36,833
$39,575
$41,412
$44,146
Payroll Specialist
$39,910
$41,622
$43,408
$41,161
$42,083
Junior Accountant
$50,580
$51,339
$52,109
$55,477
$56,309
Benefits Analyst
$44,484
$45,151
$52,109
$57,002
$57,857
Administrative Clerk-Tax
$61,004
$64,556
$68,177
$72,921
$74,015
Administrative Clerk-Treasurer
$29,219
$30,472
$36,157
$34,535
$35,053
Accounts Payable Specialist
$65,231
$59,315
$78,475
$82,398
$83,634
Tax Collection Services
$65,000
$65,000
$65,000
$70,000
$70,000
Equipment Maintenance
$20,000
$20,000
$20,000
$20,000
$20,000
Revaluation
$85,000
$85,000
$212,624
$90,000
$90,000
Legal Ads and Subscription
$8,000
$8,000
$8,000
$8,000
$6,000
Supplies
$20,000
$20,000
$20,000
$20,000
$20,000
Total
$1,223,576
$1,248,221
$1,462,207
$1,398,541
$1,435,380
Unclassified
The unclassified budget of $63,929,171 is a $3,836,916, or 6.39 percent, increase from the previous year. It was preliminarily approved with little discussion.
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BRTA Focuses on a New Run Schedule
By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Berkshire Regional Transit Authority is still working on maintaining its run schedules after dropping the route realignment proposal.
Last Thursday's meeting was Administrator Kathleen Lambert's first official meeting taking over the reins; retiring director Robert Malnati stayed during a transition period that ended last month.
Lambert is trying to create a schedule that will lessen cancellations. There was a two-hour meeting the week before with the drivers union to negotiate run bids and Lambert is working with the new operating company Keolis, which is taking over from Transdev.
The board spoke about anonymous emails from drivers, which Lambert said she has not seen. iBerkshires was not able to see those letters, but has received some.
"They were lengthy emails from someone describing themselves as concerning BRTA employee, and there was a signed letter from a whole group of employees basically stating their concerns. So, you know, to me, it was a set of whistleblowers, and that, what my understanding is that this really triggers a need for some type of process to review the merits of these whistleblowers, not going to call them accusations, but basically expressions of concern," said member Stephen Bannon.
A letter iBerkshires received spoke of unhappy drivers who were considering quitting because of decisions being made without "input from frontline staff," frustration and falling morale, and the removal of the former general manager shortly after Lambert came in.
Lambert said it's difficult to navigate a new change. She also noted many drivers don't want to do Saturday runs and it has been hard negotiating with drivers on the new runs.
"I would like you all to keep in mind that the process of change is super difficult. Transdev has been here for 20 years, and some of these drivers have never known any other operating company, the way some of the operations have been handled has been archaic," she said. "So getting folks up to speed on how a modern transit system works is going to be painful for them. So I don't want to say that I'm unsympathetic, because I am sympathetic, but I am trying to coax people along with a system that's going to seem very strange to them."
The board spoke about better communication between them and Lambert, citing cooperation will be best moving forward.
"There's just a lot of stuff in the air right now, and there are a lot of fires to put out to make this a coordinated effort. And if we don't keep our communications open and be straightforward, then you get blindsided about how you know the input that you could get from us about your position, and how you know what's going on in your direction, and we get blindsided. And I think that we have to make sure that this is a collaboration," said member Sherry Youngkin.
"Both sides have responsibilities, because in the long run, this advisory board is going to have to make decisions as to how we brought forward and if we've gone forward in a fair and helpful way. And I think that's hopefully what everybody is looking for also."
Transdev and Keolis held a three-day recruiting event interviewing almost 40 candidates and offering jobs to eight, but only three stayed on to start training. Lambert said it was disappointing but she will keep trying to retain more people.
In her first report to the board, she noted that ridership dipped a little over 10 percent, but still remains higher than last year, adding that was because of cancellations of services because of the lack of drivers.
Like the last meeting, some of the advisory board members were torn over the start of the Link413 service, worried that the start of the service took drivers away and the numbers of riders are low.
Lambert, however, said the ridership has doubled from last month.
"As I've spoken before, we have, generally, a six-month adoption for brand-new service before you can really go in and evaluate, are you being successful based on the grant that my predecessor wrote along with the team for PBTA and RTA, we are ahead of schedule, which is pretty good, so I'm hoping that will continue to improve," she said.
Member Renee Wood said the board never approved the service, adding the only thing she could find in the minutes was a vote to accept the equipment. She said it was supposed to be put on the agenda to discuss.
"The Link413 service has been three years in the making. It's been a grant that was accepted and has been working with our partners, PVTA and FRTA, to put into place. So I don't have the entire history of how that process worked, but it's been three years in the making, and did we not understand that once we accept that grant that we were going to put in new service?" Lambert said.
The board discussed if Title VI, the Civil Rights Act, was followed with an accurate review and accurate amount of time for public comment period on the service changes and if its attorney should review if the grant conditions were properly followed.
Lambert said changes had the 60-day comment period included in the proposed route realignment packet, giving the opportunity for the community to respond to that as well but will look into the legality of the situation with their attorney.
The Berkshire Regional Transit Authority is still working on maintaining its run schedules after dropping the route realignment proposal. click for more
The town election is less than a month away and, unlike recent ones, all open seats are uncontested, with even a vacancy remaining on the Planning Board.
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