The Pittsfield School Committee on Dec. 30 authorized its chair to negotiate and execute a retainer with law firm Bulkley Richardson Galenas for an independent investigation into allegations involving Pittsfield Public Schools employees. The committee voted 5-0 to approve the authorization.

Under the draft agreement read into the record, the investigator will conduct a limited series of interviews of key witnesses — including individuals named in the agreement and others who purport to have actual knowledge — seek credible sources of information related to the allegations, form a professional judgment about whether allegations are substantiated, and provide the committee with a written report of findings. The draft names retired Massachusetts Superior Court judge Mary Lou Rupe as the lead investigator.

The draft sets a start date of Dec. 31, 2024 assuming the agreement is signed, and states all services should be completed on or before March 31, 2025 unless the parties agree to extend the timeline. The compensation language in the draft specifies $275 per hour for attorney Mary Lou Rupe and other firm attorneys and $110 per hour for paralegal work.

Committee members pressed for clarity about the scope and intent of the probe. Member Miss Hathaway said she had expected a broader audit of district systems — including social media practices, background-check and mandated-reporting compliance, and human-resources staffing — and noted that some allegations may also be addressed by the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families. “I thought we would be looking at problems in our system more than looking at the allegations,” Hathaway said.

The chair told members the plan includes two separate outside inquiries: the present independent investigation (intended to substitute for an internal investigation into the merits of reported incidents) and a forthcoming, separate audit of human-resources practices with a different contractor; he said he has contacted the Boston firm Merrick O’Connell for that HR audit. The chair said the district could amend the retainer if additional known allegations or individuals come to light but that the investigator would not be expected to "sweep the Internet" for accusations.

Several members asked whether the third-party probe would duplicate processes covered by collective bargaining. The chair said unions have a duty of fair representation but do not have the right to dictate how the district obtains information; he described the outside inquiry as fact-finding rather than an adjudication and said it would produce documentation of who was interviewed and what was said to inform any later personnel actions.

Mayor Peter Marchetti asked about public access to the investigator’s report. The chair said he would defer to legal counsel about what may be released under public records law and exemptions but stated the district’s intent is to release whatever parts of the report it is legally permitted to disclose.

Because the meeting was held remotely, the committee took a roll-call vote: Mayor Peter Marchetti, Miss Bellaire, Doctor Cameron, Mister Elias and Miss Hathaway each voted yes and the motion passed 5-0. The chair was authorized to begin negotiations and to execute the retainer so the investigation can commence without delay.

The committee adjourned after the vote. Its next regular meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, Jan. 8 at 6 p.m. in City Council chambers.