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Council approves appointments, multiple grants and moves city code amendments forward; mayor proclaims Overdose Awareness Day
Summary
Council unanimously approved routine appointments and several grants (state 911 training and dispatch, Stanton Foundation, NEA), moved city code amendments to drafting, accepted committee reports, proclaimed Aug. 31 Overdose Awareness Day and approved a fee waiver for a West Side affordable housing project.
At its Aug. 13 meeting the Pittsfield City Council approved a slate of routine appointments and grant acceptances and moved several ordinance matters forward.
Appointments approved included James Clark as director of veterans services and Kevin Zawestowski as chief information officer. The council also confirmed multiple appointments to the Pittsfield Cultural Council and accepted several internal fire department promotions.
Grant acceptances approved by voice vote included: a $16,600.32 State 911 training grant for FY25; a $27,073.79 FY25 emergency dispatch grant; a Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness (MVP) grant to start culvert restoration work on the Unkemit Brook (staff said the MVP award will fund consultant work for feasibility and 30–50% design with later phases to follow); a Stanton Foundation award of $24,234 to pave the dog‑park parking lot at Burbank Park; and a $100,000 National Endowment for the Arts grant to support engagement and design work for a West Side housing project (funds to cover architectural fees, community design engagement and materials).
The council accepted an Ordinance & Rules Committee report recommending periodic review and updates to the city code and voted to have general code prepare ordinance drafts for the proposed amendments; ordainment will be considered later. Council also approved other committee reports (veterans parking exemption study, public‑works petitions) and a rule requiring presenters to submit presentation materials for council packets.
Mayor Marchetti read a proclamation in the meeting audio declaring Aug. 31, 2024, as Overdose Awareness Day and announced related community events: a flag‑raising and plaque reading at city hall Aug. 29, a memorial service and name reading in Park Square on Aug. 31, and a Sept. 7 community event called Rebel in Recovery.
The council also approved a petition from Westside Legends Inc. to waive business building permit fees for an affordable, first‑time homeownership development called Project Legacy on the West Side.
Next steps: staff will continue implementing accepted grants, the ordinance drafts will return for further council review and the mayor’s office will proceed with Overdose Awareness Day events.
