Pittsfield Council Drops Mayor as School Chair Change
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The City Council supported some recommended changes to the City Charter, but left behind an ordinance that designates the mayor as chair of the School Committee.
On Tuesday, councilors approved ordinances that change the city clerk's term from two to four years, give the operating budget a safeguard from charter objections, and allow more time to debate the budget before the end of the fiscal year.
A proposed amendment to Article 4, Section 4-1 (a) that stipulates "The mayor shall serve, by virtue of the office, as a member and chairperson of the school committee and shall preside over all meetings of the school committee," was filed without prejudice.
The amendment to Article 5, Section 5-1 (b) that doubles the city clerk's term will go on a future ballot. The Attorney General's Office must approve all three ordinances before going on the ballot or being ordained by the council.
During open microphone, School Committee Chair William Cameron urged councilors to reject the proposal to have the School Committee chaired by the city's mayor. He sees two reasons advanced for this move: because other municipalities do it, and to give the city's chief executive more direct leadership over Pittsfield's largest budget item.
"I submit that the proposed ordinance would be unwise for three reasons: First, it would deny the committee the right to select its own leader. 'But some communities do this now' is not an argument that Pittsfield should do so, too. It's just a comparison. Simply following their lead bestows no apparent benefits on the city or the schools," he said.
"Second, it would prevent the committee from removing its chairperson if they create problems through mismanagement of committee business or arrogate to themselves power they don't legitimately have. Such problems can be corrected now by the committee selecting a new chair mid-term. Ordinance two would make that impossible,"
"Third, the idea that the mayor ought to have 'a more direct leadership role over the city's largest budget item,' gives every appearance of exalting the chair at the expense of the other six members, particularly as regards budgeting and financial decisions."
Ward 5 Councilor Patrick Kavey read a communication from resident Brendan Sheran, vice chair of the Charter Review Committee that reconvened in 2023. Sheran asked that all of the proposed changes be put on the ballot, explaining that another route could be establishing a charter commission to build on that work.
"This would ensure robust public discussion and build a shared understanding of the potential changes for the community," he wrote.
"We must not vote or submit to decide how the government should be run. To do anything less is a disservice to the citizens you were elected to represent."
He said the committee's review was thorough and inclusive, with monthly meetings and public hearings for over a year and a half. He found that the proposed changes were "quite honest" and would have a significant positive impact if presented to and adopted by voters.
Sheran sees them as fundamental shifts in governance and power that residents should have the final say on.
The item had been continued from Sept. 9, and councilors cited confusion regarding votes from this night and much deliberation.
Ordinance 3 stipulates that a charter objection pertaining to the proposed budget for the upcoming fiscal year shall not be entertained, and Ordinance 4 requires the mayor to submit the budget at least 45 days before the beginning of the fiscal year, rather than 30 days.
"By not changing this, you give the mayor the ability to take away some of your time frames, because as the City Council, by state law, you're allowed 45 days to deliberate a budget. If the mayor chooses to deliver 30 days before, you're stuck up against the July 1 deadline," Mayor Peter Marchetti explained.
"So I do believe that this is a necessary change, and it was one that I advocated for during the process."
Tags: charter review, city charter,
