Pittsfield to Conduct Phase Two of Water System Flushing

03:41PM / Friday, April 25, 2025Print Story | Email Story

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The City of Pittsfield will begin phase two of its spring water system flushing on Monday, April 28, following the completion of phase one. Water mains citywide will be flushed through hydrants to remove pipeline corrosion products. Flushing will occur Monday through Friday each week, excluding holidays, between 7:30 a.m. and 3 p.m. Phase two is scheduled from April 28 to May 2.

The flushing is expected to affect the following areas:

Starting at Unkamet Park Drive heading west to North Street, working north to the Broadway and Lakeview streets neighborhood.
Starting at Plastics Avenue moving west on Dalton Avenue, including the Allendale and Allengate neighborhoods, then moving west onto Tyler Street into the Morningside neighborhood, including Springside Avenue, pushing west to North Street.
Lincoln and Fenn streets, Silver Lake, Wendell Avenue, and the surrounding vicinity, pushing west to North Street.
South Mountain and Tamarack roads, Dan Fox Drive, and south to the Pittsfield-Lenox line.

Flushing may cause temporary localized discolored water and reduced service pressure in the immediate vicinity. The city states that treatment and disinfection levels in the system will be maintained. Residents experiencing discolored water are advised to run their water for a short period to clear it before use. Persistent discolored water or low pressure should be reported to the Water Department at (413) 499-9339.

The city indicates that flushing is a standard procedure for maintaining water quality in the distribution system.

Tags: fire hydrants,

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Pittsfield Council Revisiting DEI Office Rename

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 rename 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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