Pittsfield Lifeguard Update for 2025 Summer Season

04:00PM / Friday, July 04, 2025Print Story | Email Story

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Be advised that lifeguards will not be present to monitor the water and related activities like swimming at Burbank Park (Onota Lake) this summer.

The city began a search for qualified lifeguards in April of 2025. After several months of unsuccessful attempts to fill the lifeguard positions, the city is unable to provide lifeguarding for the 2025 season.

Swimming in an unsupervised, natural body of water is inherently dangerous. Any person choosing to swim does so at their own risk.

Onota Lake is a natural body of water with risks that include, but are not limited to:

Sudden and unexpected changes in water depth
Cold water temperatures that can impair swimming ability
Underwater hazards such as rocks, logs, and vegetation
Unpredictable currents
The lake bottom is not inspected or maintained for safety

Children and weak swimmers should not use the swimming area without close adult supervision. No one should swim alone.

There are no emergency services stationed at this park. In an emergency, call 911.

Signage will be available in various areas located throughout Burbank Park notifying the public of this message.

We will continue to keep the job posting for lifeguards open and encourage qualified candidates with the proper certifications to apply. Interested applicants can find more information here: https://jobs.keldair.com/cityofpittsfield/jobs/89907/lifeguard

iBerkshires.com Text Ads

Save & Earn with Greylock

3.30% APY 6-month certificate. Click to learn more! Insured by NCUA.

www.greylock.org

rk MILES Blding Materials

Are You Ready to Update Your Home? Start With rk MILES. 4 Locations (800)670-7433

www.rkmiles.com

If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

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.

View Full Story