Pittsfield Announces FY26 Street Paving Schedule

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The City of Pittsfield has announced a list of roads scheduled for paving as part of the Fiscal Year 2026 Street Improvement Program. The work is set to begin in the summer.

The following roads are included in the paving schedule: Alcove Street, Allengate Avenue, Auburn Street, Beacon Avenue, Bradford Street (from Center Street to Francis Avenue), Brunswick Street, Charisma Drive, Churchill Street (from #364 to #650), Crane Avenue (from #567 to Unkamet Park Drive), Darlene Avenue, Fairfield Street, Jones Avenue, Kenwood Street, Meleca Avenue, Scalise Drive, Taconic Park Drive, Tamie Way, Tennyson Avenue, and Vista Street.

These improvements are funded through Chapter 90 money from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and will be completed by contractors. The work is slated to occur between July 1, 2025, and June 30, 2026.

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Pittsfield Council Revisiting DEI Office Restructure

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

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 restructure 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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