Pittsfield Seeking Community Input on Hazard Mitigation Plan Update

10:33AM / Thursday, June 12, 2025Print Story | Email Story

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Hazard Mitigation Planning Committee of Pittsfield has developed a comprehensive Hazard Mitigation Plan Update that identifies and prioritizes strategies to mitigate the impacts of natural hazards and climate change on our community.

Pittsfield's Hazard Mitigation Planning Committee has developed this plan as a strategy for the city against existing and future natural hazard threats and the evolving challenges posed by climate change. Implementation of this plan will enhance the resilience to hazards such as flooding, snowstorms, high winds, and extreme temperatures.

Public engagement lies at the core of our Hazard Mitigation Plan. It is imperative that this plan reflects the diverse perspectives and priorities of the community members as the city moves to mitigate risks posed by natural hazards and climate change.

The draft plan can be viewed on the Pittsfield's Fire Department webpage on the city's website.

Comments on the draft plan can be provided using the Google form or via email to tsammons@cityofpittsfield.org by Friday, June 20, 2025.

City officials and local stakeholders developed this plan with funding support from the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency. Federal Emergency Management Agency

(FEMA) approval, and City adoption, of the Hazard Mitigation Plan allows the City to pursue pre- and post-disaster hazard mitigation grant opportunities.

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Pittsfield Council Revisiting DEI Office Restructure

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 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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