Pittsfield City Hall, City Council Chamber

AGENDA

1.             Open microphone

COMMUNICATIONS FROM HIS HONOR THE MAYOR

2.             A communication from Mayor Ruberto submitting an annual update from Yvonne Pearson of Downtown Inc.

3.             A communication from Mayor Ruberto submitting a presentation from Mayor John Barrett, III regarding his contracted work with the Public Works Department.

4.             A communication from Mayor Ruberto submitting an Order authorizing the City Treasurer to borrow an aggregate sum not exceeding $30,000.00 for Capital Equipment.

5.             A communication from Mayor Ruberto submitting an Order authorizing a capital expenditure not to exceed $200,000.00 for planning for the high school building project on Valentine Road.

6.             A communication from Mayor Ruberto submitting an Order transferring $696,275.00 for the purpose of offsetting year-end deficits in various department accounts.

7.             A communication from Mayor Ruberto submitting an Order authorizing the City of Pittsfield to declare as surplus property located at 56 Circular Avenue.

8.             A communication from Mayor Ruberto submitting an Order authorizing the City of Pittsfield to declare as surplus property located at 61-67 Cherry Street.

9.             A communication from Mayor Ruberto submitting an Order authorizing the City of Pittsfield to declare as surplus property located at 47 and 51 Prospect Street.

10.         A communication from Mayor Ruberto submitting an Order authorizing the City of Pittsfield to declare as surplus property located at 225 Bradford Street.

11.         A communication from Mayor Ruberto submitting an Order authorizing the City of Pittsfield to accept a grant in the amount of $256,632.00 from the Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs.

12.         A communication from Mayor Ruberto submitting an Order authorizing the City of Pittsfield to accept an additional grant in the amount of $65,000.00 from the Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development, Neighborhood Stabilization Program.

13.         A communication from Mayor Ruberto submitting an Order authorizing the City of Pittsfield to accept a grant of five (5) solar trash compacting units from the Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs.

14.         A communication from Mayor Ruberto submitting a Traffic Order to establish stop signs at the intersection of Onota Street and West Union Street.

15.         A communication from Mayor Ruberto submitting a Traffic Order to establish stop signs at the intersection of Bradford Street and Daniels Avenue.

16.         A communication from Mayor Ruberto submitting an Order authorizing the City of Pittsfield to discontinue the portion of West Street running 574.2 feet from the town bound with the Town of Hancock.

APPOINTMENTS

17.         Appointment of Lee Alan Kohlenberger, Jr., Anthony R. Marchetto, Nathan S. Backer, and Peter M. Breitmaier as firefighters in the Pittsfield Fire Department.

PUBLIC HEARINGS

18.         A public hearing on a petition from Western Massachusetts Electric Company and Verizon New England, Inc. to install one (1) jointly owned pole at the intersection of West Housatonic Street and Foremans Lane.

19.         A public hearing on a petition from Western Massachusetts Electric Company to install six (6) four-inch underground conduits in the roadway of Willis Street.

20.         A public hearing on a petition from Western Massachusetts Electric Company to install six (6) four-inch PVC conduits in the roadway of Wendell Avenue Extension.

COMMUNICATIONS AND REPORTS FROM CITY OFFICERS AND BOARDS

21.         A petition from Councilor Nichols requesting that the Rules of the City Council be amended by adding Rule 23C relating to authorization of debt, issuance of bonds or notes, acceptance of grants, and approval of tax increment financing agreements.

22.         A response from the Board of Assessors on a petition from Donald Bercury requesting a public hearing to investigate the taxation of the closed Catholic churches in the City of Pittsfield

REPORTS OF COMMITTEES

23.         A report from the Traffic Commission on a communication from Mayor Ruberto submitting an Ordinance amending the Code of the City of Pittsfield, Chapter 13, Motor Vehicles and Traffic, recommending approval as amended by Ordinances & Rules.

24.         A report from the Traffic Commission on a communication from Mayor Ruberto submitting an Ordinance amending the Code of the City of Pittsfield, Chapter 13, Motor Vehicles and Traffic, Article VII, Municipal Parking Areas, Section 13-86, Parking Fees, recommending approval.

25.         A report from the Traffic Commission on a communication from Mayor Ruberto submitting a proposal to make changes affecting Municipal Parking Lot 5A, recommending approval.

26.         A report from the Traffic Commission on a communication from Mayor Ruberto submitting an Order authorizing the implementation of parking changes on North Street, recommending approval.

27.         A report from the Traffic Commission on a petition from Councilor Krol requesting a four-way stop sign at the intersection of Daniels Avenue and Bradford Street, recommending approval.

28.         A report from the Traffic Commission on a petition from Jeffrey Ferrin that new commercial vehicle signs be placed on Pomeroy Avenue and Holmes Road, recommending approval as amended.

29.         A report from the Traffic Commission on a petition from Katherine Gundelfinger requesting that a stop sign be installed on Second Street at Burbank Street, recommending that the petition be filed.

30.         A report from the Committee on Public Safety and Health on a petition from Councilor Ward inviting the Berkshire Regional Planning Commission to present an overview of the Berkshire Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan, recommending that the report be accepted and placed on file.

31.         A report from the Committee on Public Safety and Health on a petition from Councilor Krol requesting that the Committee receive an update on the PCB Remediation Projects, recommending that the report be accepted and placed on file.

32.         A report from the Committee on Public Safety and Health on a communication from James J. Wilusz, Director of Public Health, to restore funding for mosquito control measures recommending a presentation from the Berkshire County Mosquito Control Project, recommending that the report be accepted and placed on file.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS

33.         A petition from residents of Lebanon Avenue and Donovan Street for immediate action to correct the sewage odor in their area.

34.         A petition from Jeffrey Ferrin requesting a full and complete independent audit of the water department.

35.         A report from the Committee on Ordinances & Rules on a petition from Mayor Ruberto submitting an Ordinance proposing new rates for the various municipal parking areas, recommending approval.

36.         A report from the Committee on Ordinances & Rules on a petition from Mayor Ruberto submitting an Ordinance amending the Code of the City of Pittsfield, Chapter 13, Motor Vehicles and Traffic, recommending that the petition be approved as amended.

NEW BUSINESS

37.         A petition from Manos Unidas requesting that the Pittsfield City Council pass a resolution to ban all investments of Arizona based companies and to ban all purchases from Arizona based companies.

38.         A petition from Jeffrey Ferrin requesting that the Traffic Commission and Police Chief establish a schedule of fees and fines for weight restriction violations on commercial vehicle restricted streets.

ORDINANCES

39.         Final reading on an Ordinance amending the Code of the City of Pittsfield, Article X, Room Occupancy Excise.

40.         Final reading on an Ordinance amending the Code of the City of Pittsfield, Chapter 20, Streets and Sidewalks, Section 20-21, Removal of Snow and Ice.

MATTERS REFERRED BY THE PRESIDENT UNDER RULE 27

Referred to Traffic Commission

41.         A petition from Jeffrey Ferrin requesting that a stop sign be placed at the intersection of Stratford and Malcolm Streets.