xt7brv0czh3g https://exploreuk.uky.edu/dips/xt7brv0czh3g/data/mets.xml Historical Records Survey (Mass.) United States. Work Projects Administration. Division of Service Projects. Massachusetts Historical Records Survey (Mass.) United States. Work Projects Administration. Division of Service Projects. 1942 2 v.: ill. 27 cm. UK holds archival copy for ASERL Collaborative Federal Depository Library Program libraries and the Federal Information Preservation Network. Call Number FW 4.14:M 382/3/no.2/v.22 books  English Boston, Mass.: the Survey  This digital resource may be freely searched and displayed in accordance with U. S. copyright laws. Massachusetts Works Progress Administration Publications Pittsfield (Mass,)--Archival resources Public records--Massachusetts--Pittsfield Pittsfield (Mass.)--History Inventory of Town and City Archives of Massachusetts. No. 2, Berkshire County, vol. XXII, Pittsfield, 1942 text Inventory of Town and City Archives of Massachusetts. No. 2, Berkshire County, vol. XXII, Pittsfield, 1942 1942 1942 2020 true xt7brv0czh3g section xt7brv0czh3g Iii} 0;:K

"Igufl'fiij i Iii‘giiiiwiil 7 ‘

i iii/Hiram
of

TOWN AND C
ARCHIVES

of

e MASSACHUSETTS

52:1

]
I

~~_f._,,_,_.._~

No.2. BERKSHIRE COUNTY
VOLXXII. Pins HELD

PART 2
3%:ng .fiUBLiCATiC:

\FI'V‘ERSE'E"? UF KENTUCK‘
HBRARiES

, Bosion. Massachusetts
THE HISTORIGAL RECORDS SURVEY.
Service Divisim
Work Preijeesis Administration
“342

 

  

 

"To bring together the records of the past and to

house them in the buildings where they will be preserved
for the use of men living in the future, a nation must
believe in three things. It must believe in the past.
It must believe in the future. It must, above all,
believe in the capacity of its people so to learn from
the past‘that-they can gain in judgment for the creation

of the future;" ---------- Franklin Delano Roosevelt.

 INVENTORY OF TOWN AND CITY ARCHIVES

OF MASSACHUSETTS

No 2 Berxshire County

Vol 22 Pittsfield

Prepared by
The Historical Records Survey
Service Divisions
Work Projects Administration

*****

The Historical Records Survey
Boston) Massachusatts
1942

 

 

 

   

 

Sargent B Child
Paul A Baker

Service Program DiViSion

Florence Kerr
Agnes Cronin
Harold G Dunney

Margaret D Wallace

Work ProjeCts Administration

F H Dryden
”‘ Fm EIL‘iml
Denis W Delaney

{id

Frederic w Cook

storical Records Survey Program

Sponsor of the Historical Records Survey Project in Massachusetts

 

       
     
      
  

National Director
State Supervisor of t*“
Records Survey in Hosp

   

'"ical
acnnsctts

HJSt

 

\

Assistant CommiSSioner
Chief Regionai SuperVisor
State Director

Chief, War Services Section

Acting Commissioner
Regional Director
State Administrator

 
  

     

Secretary of the Commonwealth

 This P1191129; 91'. the Tenn and
Part ll of a two volume unit in the
of ‘1, 1e Tenn and City [Archives of Mass
Records Survey in Massachusetts '
essay, the sketches of the town and
manuscripts relating to Pittsi'ield
Commonweal is being publis1ed se

"it D.
ducrion The City 3 long, rich his“

 
  
 
  
 
 
 
   
 

   

industrial growth has resrlted in a sTem
embodying a huge accumulation of mat<* ,ore has

 

been prepared to include the inieito ves the report
on the hcuSing and accessibxliry 01 he governmental
organir .ation sketch Tovitlc, these re the first in
:he series of such inventories covering the towns and cities of Berkshire
County It is anticipated that eventuaLly Lie r-‘c is of every governw
mental unit in the state Will be lisied .“ this volume and of
every publication of th Massaciw mu etts HisLo ;. Records Survey a list
of which may be found in each of This velume‘ - distributed among
libraries throughout the country

In addition to its regular woxk of preprring and publishing inventories,
guides calendars, check lists and indexes the Srrvey has a new and ime
portant task in the present 3611 d of crisis enc. o_sed [y the Committee on
the Conservation of Cultural Resouices To survegz lIusing and storage
facilities in restricted areas for ~genq rdepcsit o: archives, menu
scripts records and museum treasures and to assist curators and custo
dians in preparing prioritv l1sts 0? such materials

The field research on which this inventory is based was prepared
under the direction of Mrs Dora W Eastman, the editorial work was done
under he supervision of Morris l 'Nariow, the work of publication was
under the supervision of M Louis Haffer The Survey is indebted to the
city officials of Pittsfield for the city s sponsorship of this work and
for their cooperation with the Survey s fiei d personnel. and to the
Secretary of the Commonwealth Mr Frederic W Coo? sponsor of the
historical Records Survey

Pat 1 3“; Baker
State Supervisor
H stor ical Records Survey

 

   

FOREWORD

The In‘fcliiiiorv .91“ the Terr and .Qiti‘ A
of a number of bibliographies of historic ls prepared throughout
the United States by workers on the Hi 0 1 ords Survey of the Work
Projects Administration -he nub'ication he1ewith presented an inventory
of the Archives of Pittsfield in Berkshire County; is volume XXII of Inmber
2 of thel assacniset series

Massachusetts is one

(

   

The Historical Records Survey was undertaken in the winter of 1935—56
for the purpose of providing useful employment to needy unemployed histo»
rians, lawyers, teachers, and research and clerical workers In carrying
out this objective the project was organized to compile inventories of
historical materials; particularly the unpublished govermnent documents
and records which are basic in the administration of local government, and
which provide invaluable data for students of political, economic, and
social history Up to the pr sent time approximately 1800 publications
have been issued by the Survey throughout the Country The archiva. guide
herewith presented is intended to meet the requirements of daymto~day ad»
ministration by town officials, and also the needs of lawyers, business
men and other citizens who require facts from the public records for the
proper conduct of their affairs The volume is so designed that it can
be used by the historian in his research in unprinted sources in the same
way he uses the library cc' rd catalogue for printed sources

The inventories produced by the Historical Records Survey attempt to
do more than.give merely a list of records they attempt further to sketch
in the historical background of the county or other unit of government;
and to'ies cribe precisely and in detail the organization and functions
of the government agencies whose records they list The county, town,
and city inventories for the entire country will, when completed, con~
stitute an encyclopedia of ocal government as well as bibliography of
local archives

The succeess1ul conclusion of the work of the Historical Records
Survey, even in a s1 ngle tovxn, would not be possible without the support
of publico fie ial 8, historical and legs spec cialists. and many other groups
in the community Their cooperation is gratefully acknowledged

The survey was directed by Luther H Evans from its inception in
January 1936 to March 1; 1940 when he was succeeded by Sargent B Child
formerly National Field Supervisor It operates as a naticn~wide project
in the Division of Professional and Service Projects} of which Lrs
Florence Kerr, Assista.nt Co;nmissioner; is in charge

F H Dryden
Actirg Commissioner of Work
PT)jGCtS Administration

 

‘1
I
‘1
11
l
1

   
 
     

 IV

VI,

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 
    

Br J, :,1 an Its Records System
3113
'51 Organization, .go,...,a,. ,Lafia...q.xii

‘01s and Explanatory Notes , we ).....a......l
ocessibility of tne Records, ,,“.....,......4
i.ua”° ..,..,.28

   

  
 

 

  

F; and Their Records
Pages
Mayo; untyies 1 ii : , , :,J:;L,38—4O
Pepoi s 1, in uronce Appraisals of City Properties,
f’r, Llfiet‘vs and Permits 7} 85 Miscellaneous
’ ‘)d3 9 11
oincil en ries 12 18 . . ,.. _.3....,,.‘4O-42
‘lenooos Committees Minutes of Meetings
“01 “Tees, entries 19 33 ~ , 1;¢‘~ $42—44
Minutes oi committee Meetings, 19-32, Correspondence,

33

City Clerk‘ ertri

Au5;1..3,‘5;,.;45—72
VJ 391 88, 125>128, Orders and
Ordinances 40 4:3 Vital Statistics, 45_59; Property
Records Legal instruments, 60 76; LiCenses, Permits,
Registiacions. T? 102, Elections? Appointments,
Registr tions 103 109? Pole Locations? Highways,

and Street Records; 110 113,

1:41.1mM Records, 114 118, Soldiers Relief Records,

es
Minutes and reports
A

 

119 192, Financial Records, 123 124, Special
Committees Minutes of Meetings, 125~128g
Miscellaneous Records, 129 135

   

 

L; '1se Boaxd entries 136 153 4., .a,\.ui..; .3. 73—76
LlUUtGS of Meetings‘ 136, Applications for Licenses,
13‘ 141 153, Licenses! PermitsD 142—149; Financial
Io,ords 150 151, Miscellaneous Records3 152, 153

Regisyisis of VOters, entries 154 170 ‘.Qc...,.........,77~80

Minutes of Meetings 154, Records of Voters‘
Registrations 155 166; Miscellaneous Records, 167—170

 

 VIII

XI

XII

i XIII

 

XIV

VII,

Table of Contents

 

Board of Assessors, entries 171 220 l . 80
Reports, 171, Valuations, Commitments 172-186,
Betterment Assessments 187 194 215 ii to v,
Abatements, Exemptions. 195 198 Motor Vehicle

xcise Records, 199 202, Property Transfers, 205 205,

Tax DelinquenCies_ 206, 207, Mans and Plans, 208 214,
Miscellaneous Records 215 220

Tax Collector, entries 221 249. .90
Commitments, 221-252, Financial Records 255 242,
Abatements, 245, 244, Tax Titles 245 248 Correspondence
249

Treasurer, entries 250 280 96
Reports, 250; Receipts. Expenditures, 251 255, Warrants
Schedules, Bills, 256, 257, Notes Bonds 258 265, Tax
Titles, 266w275, Checks, Bank Statements. 276 278,
Miscellaneous Records, 279. 280

Auditor, entries 281-501 105
Reports, 281 284, General Accounts, 285 288, Warrants
Schedules, 289 297 501, Notes, Bonds, 298, 299,
Miscellaneous Records. 500 501

Retirement Board, entries 502 514 . 109-

Minutes of Meetings, 502, Financial Records 505 514

School Committee 112-

Minutes of Meetings, and Miscellaneous Reports and
Statements, entries 535 518
Superintendent of Schools entries 519 488, 992 994 115

Reports, 519 524, Pupils Records 525 558, Financial
Records, 559 545, Personnel Records, 546 549,
Miscellaneous Records. 550 556 Records of Pittsfield
High School, 557 567, Central Junior High School

568 574, Crane Junior High SchOOl, 575-578, Plunkett
Junior High School, 579 585, Pomeroy Junior High School,
584w588, Pontoosuc Junior High School, 589 591, Tucker
Junior High School, 592-594, Abbey Lodge School

595-597, Bartlett School 598 402, Briggs School
405-407, Coltsville School 408 410, Crane School,

411 416, Dawes School, 417 421, Hibhard School;

422w425, Mercer School_ 426-450, Morewood School,
45l~455, Nugent School, 454 457, Osceola School,
458~440, Peckjs School, 44l 445, Pomeroy School,

446 449; Pontoosuc School, 450 452, Read School,
4554456, Redfield School, 457 460, Rice School

461 464; Russell School, 465 469, Stearns School,

470 474, Tucker School, 475~477, Vocational,
Continuation, and Evening Schools, 478 488, Minutes

of Meetings of school Districts, 992 994

Berkshire Athanaeum Trustees. entries 489 492 . 145,

Minutes of Meetings, Accessions, Cashbook

90

O
0,

105

~109

-l45,
62,263

146

 

  

 

L05

109

145,

365

XVI

XIX

XXI
XXII

XXIII

XXIV

 
   
   
     
     
 
 
  
   
  

 

 

  

    

901N"n"te
Ea es
Public Welfare, entries 495 550 315, ,,,146—164
495 496 545, General Aid Case ‘
General Aid Recinients’ Accounts,
Aid Orders, 527 529, Aid to
ten Case Records, 495, 499, 550—557,
‘ 661ldren Financial Records, 558 540;
E41. 544 Miscellaneous Records,
rQJlL‘uHFe entries 551 567", r , .0 165-170
566, Case Records 554 561, Financial
, Miscellaneous Records, 566, 567
st); "_ entries 568 575 171,172
'8 r I Financial- Recor ds 570 575
‘ Soldiers Reliefl
, , 172—177
Financial Records, 578»584,
585, 586
entries 587—624 177~184
5 7 588, 595, 594. 595, 600,
'ds of Communicable Diseases,
s Case Records 595 605,
604 606, Laboratorym iests,
:mits, 610 614, Financial
laneous Records, 619 624
011 , 626 , 1,..,.,...; . . , 185
In: 627 . ,,aog,., .,.e, 185
M1 , entries 628 -654 a ,,, 11854187
628-650, Licenses,
Meats and Provisions,
187
,187,188

Correspondence, entries 656—659
Works, entries 640 858 ..... ,,, 188—225
640-654, General Accounts, ,
'81?, Bids an nd Contracts, 6654665, 1
' and Sewer Accounts, 666- 685, Highway 1
686 689, Engineer 8 Accounts, 690, 691, j
"1 Relief Project Accounts 692, 695, g
-pplications, Permits, 694-699, Engineer’s W
~gnicai Records, 700 714, Engineer s Highway Records, ‘
720, 745, Ereineer s Sewer Records 662, 685, 685, I
727, Enginee1sWat r System.Records 645, 647m649, %
681 722, 728 740, 815 826, Engineer s Federal Relief \

    

 

Project Records, 689 692, 695, 741, 742, 815~821,

Elizineei s Misceilaneous Records, 745 745; Maps and

Plans, ‘45 746 774, 796, 805, 804, 815, Highway and 1;

Sewe} Haintenance Division s Records, 676 678, 680, i

682 685. 686 689. 696 697. 715 727 745 750 755, , h
1
|
1
J

 

775 785, ,,wage Treatment Plant s Records, 655, 775,
786 789, Water D1v1s1ou s Records, 645, 647~649,

 

   

XXV

XXVI

1 , XZVII
‘ XXVIII

XXIX
XXX

XXXI

XXXII

'4111

XXXIV

 

XXIVII

XXXVIII

 

XXXVI

XXXIX,

Commissioner of Public Works (Cont d)
652, 666w681, 684, 698, 728-740, 745, 754—761,
790 804, Municipal Garage Records, 805-808,
City Paving Yard Records, 809-814, WPA Project
Records, 689, 692, 695, 741, 742, 798, 815,
815-821, Miscellaneous Orders 822 824,
Correspondence, 745, 821, 825 852, Miscellaneous
Records, 855 858

Park CommiSSion . u ..,,..w
Minutescfi‘Meetings, Financial Records,
Correspondence, entries 859 845

Planning Board, entries 844, 845

Board of Zoning Appeals
Minutes of Meetings, Petitions
entries 846 849

City Solicitor, entry 850

Constables
No Records Kept

Police Department, entries 851 882 ,,
Reports, 851 855, Arrests, 856 858, Complaints,
Accidents, Investigations, 859-870, Motor
Vehicle Records, 862 865, 871, 872, Financial
Records, 875 876, Miscellaneous Records,
877 882

Fire Department, entries 885 912 ,, 4.
Reports, 885, 884, Records of Fires, 884-887;
Permits, 888w896, Personnel Records, 884,
897 900, Financial Records, 901—909,
Miscellaneous Records, 910-912

Superintendent of Fire and Police Signal Systems.
Records of Reports and Purchases, Blueprints,
entries 915-916

Inspector of Buildings _..
Applications, Permits Licenses, Plans,
Correspondence, entries 917-926

Inspector of Plumbing
Applications, Permits
entries 927~956

Inspector of Wires V .7
Applications, Permits. Contract, Correspondence,
entries 957M945

Superintendent of Public Buildings, entries 944—956,
Reports, 944, 945, Financial Records, 946-952;
Correspondence, 955 956

Sealer of Weights and Measures, entries 957~975,.,,.
Reports, 957, Inspections and Tests, 958m966;
Financial Records, 967 971, Miscellaneous
Records, 9724975

Dog Officer H u..,,,

No Records Found

.. u ______

Plans,

 

Table of Contents

.2 . aaaaaaa

Complaints, Correspondence,

.226

,.227
227, 228

228
228

229w254

4255-240

(240,241

,,,.241,242

244—246

246m248

249~252

252

  

 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

   

I:

XLII

XLTII

XIIV

XLV
XIVI

KLVII

 

   

 

Joafunws

 

 

 

Yr ;,.
Vouni
M ; 535. gutsy j«{
Bleid b,1we;s

No Haaaxds Found
Viewels

'rfis a? Surveys

 

SeJef‘mau

MI‘U+E7 UL Mea*w r

 

Mlsuojlaneous 97¢

6: "7

 

Survegoys
No Reporan
Wardens
N0 Recoius

D391 Reeves
NO Records WVJQQ
Peale; 0F LeaLheI
x? '

C Retorau Fob

 

Reeves

‘ ,, ._ r-x
fir“. OTdS

 

F‘Curtf‘"

   

 

Suchyo

NE Fewer"
Surveyols
.0;

( 0
C,‘
H
{E}
‘ 1;.-
(D
C’ 1

LS Found
I HS;
Records FOmUd
Gauger of L1qu0:
NO Records
Poundkeepex
No Records
Measurexs of
No Records
Inspect01 of
No Records

No

-1_ _ ;‘
Baum»

Found
Wood
’Found
Lime
Found

 

l\£‘
OI
w

Reporfs‘

:ries 978~985

lawn and Ccrzespondence ..

 

456

W
¢

D.
0
¢

&
u

  
   
   
   
  
  
   
    
   
    
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
   
   
    
  

 LXI,

LXI

Ia

LXITI
LXIV
LXV
LXVI
LXVII

LXVIII

LXIX

LXX

LXXI
LXXII
LXXIII
LXXIV

LXXV

LXXVI

LXXVII.

    

  

  

Table of Contents
Page
Inspector of Nails ................................. . ............ ,ZSS
No Records Found
Viewer and Sealer of Molds (Moulds) ......................... .n258
No Records Found
Committee to Seat the Meetinghouse.., ,.,».~.,.., ..... . ...... .258
No Records Found
Committee on Public Safety and Correspondence ................. 258
No Records Found
Firewards‘. a . , ................................. ..258
No Records Found
Town Liquor Agent . i. .., ,,,,,= .......................... 258
No Records Found
Commissioners of the Sinking Fund ......... l ............. i ........ 258
No Records Found
Inspector of Petroleum. ........................... . ..... . ..259
No Records Found
Town Vaccinator 1 . . ,fiv.........u .......................... 259
No Records Found
Defunct Offices
City Departments
Commissioners of Sewers, ..................... ..... ..... .259,26O
Minutes of Meetings, Records of Petitions,
Correspondence, entries 984—987
Surveyors of Lumber ............................... . .......... 260
No Records Found
Tree Warden , ,‘ 7,. ..... ,.,.....................c.,.260
No Records Found
Smoke Inspector. ....................................... 260
No Records Found
Inspector of Sanitation", ,...\. .. u., ...................... .260
No Records Found
Board of Surveyg, ............................. . .............. 261
Minutes of Meetings, Miscellaneous Financial
Records, Orders, Petitions, entries 988—991
Unemployment Commission, ... ............................. i3..,.262
No Records Found
Defunct Districts
School Districts. ‘ . ... ....... 262,263

Minutes of Meetings, and Miscellaneous Reports
and Statements, entries 992—994

 

 Table of

.LXXVITI

Contents

Pittsfield Fire District, entries 995110l5,
Minutes and Reports, 095wlOO4; Records of
Fires. 1005, Financial Records, lOO6~lOlO;
Miscellaneous Records, lOll~lOlS '

List of Sources
Publications of the Historical Records Survey
in Massachusetts

269

270

 

  

PLAN OF THE TOWN OF PITTSFIELD

“taken in Obedience to a resolve of the General Court
passed June 28, AVD , 1794”*

 

 

 

Mass Archives, Town Plans, 1794, vol 8, p 9, see appendix entry 50

  

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7:;L—r/

$9.55."mG A

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www-mmmn mum, ... L _

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CIT): CLERK/ [TV mflCGUK/CIL , “ .75 JHE SCHOUL \‘
\ ‘1 Q/WE/ZLE LjEE/\

_/753 WJW EST /€?0

 

 

 

 

CLERK , LICENSE RIGIfiTRARS 07’ ASSESSORS TAX COLLECTOR '——~(S:H::::

9f
SCOMMITFEE5 BQARD ‘ / 7 V
it . We ”- ”’511 5T! mm lssr, as}; [37, /75'3
1 ~~-—~~ ['51.
, , .{ _ ., “5

.— ‘. CO/VUW‘SS/D NER BUREAU of OLD
BERN/1mg of A z

A THEN/MUM PUBLIC v/um AEGIS rMaCC
hawk. ELL,“ 7 7 2 557: NW!

. V..,.. -L4,.._‘._r,._V

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TREASURER
€577 r753

I

j‘NjF‘EC Foi‘ /"\HK1? 3C Ell} C811

 

oi Boston
55thm3a

      

We; “(~11 (1' ifiricafcmrcni V t , 0' 5 st ahl is fie d 011 liine
‘wu ;vzi ”alloyin a QOTleofl c? 4e {reprietors the Court ordered
1 It a; held to choose officers: including a

   

, A and a collector, to raise and grant
money toi : 12;: cg;ouse SHELL} 1nd support a ministerl build bridges,
mainiain ‘;,r,i -n& so ia'4d: utcn the method of calling future meetings
“Le ryrr: .'_;, ; ; mee':nfi v32 neQd on Sent 12“ presided over by an

cording to the warrant

 

 

  

     

'7 was iiim /L warrants issued b:/ the
[nrv LQ-r<) ’na; without chanve until the
'jCOLLWr a y,«
is i r lion {in v :3 3o ZOWH government seems to have oca
curred oi . if n: u {e11 place with the
‘ ;-‘;oyal cU use wilpv chars the a0t OI incorporation of the town
‘7J ‘ ,1 sad i e 2; Court on April 21 176i in response

 

“:2iigon ;; :13 p;ow;is;o:e in View of the degree of self government

     

;r‘ r :17 uni}; TNB former nlan the inception of town
governneha In: actual OHRUQGS in governmenta 1L routine The principal
innovaiicnu 33.: L‘s ‘ ii; A ‘ of a board of selec:men_as executive

   

 

rP

OTI

L 7;: Iwmn aid the addition of a number of new offices At the
fllc ‘ ‘

l761 all tne offices which had been

retained with the exception of the

g3 a const MD The new offices

se ectw en ewho also served as

'yers and a combined sealer of weig11ts

Except for a numoei of miim - varia~

political and economic pron ress of
tion of the community s government

elapsadu before the adoption of a city charter

    

CLCICLVB H.112: T

  

Hans and Plans‘ room 458 State House, bOoLCP

 

XXL. 5 6
a ”cmmonwea;th of Mass EroVince Laws l755. XV ch 15
2 Town Reto‘ds, l‘ A 6 see eitry 54

Province Laws 175

U own

H:

Cf!

 

  

   
   
    
   
    
   
   
  
   
  
  
  
  
   
  
  
  
 
  
  
   
  
  
  
  
   
  
  
  
  
    
   

government 1
1762
1763
1764
1766

1768
1770
1772
1774
1776
1777
1778
1779
1788
1789
1790
1794
1795
1800
1802
1814
1821
1824
1827
1841
1851
1 1866

1870
1871
1880
1881

1882

1884

1887

i 1889
I 1891

    

Governmental Organization

1

Following is a table of offiCe changes during the period of town

Tithingmen and hog reeves appointed

Sniveyors of wheat appointed

Three school districts created,

Surveyor of wheat discontinued, surveyor of clapboards
and shingles appointed, office of sealer separated, one
sealer of leather and one sealer of weights and measures

vi

Horse constables appointed

Field drivers elected

3131001 nt e d
on inspection and correspondence elected
on inspection and correspondence discontinued

  

 

 

 

*1 (b

Commitr~

Gadget or liquor appOinted

Poundkeeper appOinted

Tax collector elected

Deer reeves discontinued

Horse constables discontinued

Measurer of wood appointed

Sanger of liquor discontinued

Inspecvor of limes appointed

Choristers and inspector of limes discontinued~

Committee to seat the meetinghouse elected

Committee to seat meetinghouse discontinued

Firewards elected

Sealer of leather discontinued

General school committee elected

Hog reeves discontinued; overseers of the poor elected

Police officers appointed

Board of health elected, liquor agent appointed,
town solicitor appointed

School districts and tithingmen discontinued

Berkshire Athenaeum organized

Sinking fund commissioners elected

Inspector of petroleum} public weigherj and town
physiCian appointed

Park committee appointed

Board of registrars of vorers appointed

Forest firewarden appointed

Burial agent appointed

Discontinuance of moderator" selectmen, highway
surveyors, surveyors of clapboards and shingles,
firewards liquor agent

. Mm. . .. ._ “m“, ..‘ _._.___.__...,.. __._ _-‘_K._....__._=_.—_»_.

1 Town Records I Vlll passim see entry 54

  

   

)ne
lI‘eS

    

'Governmenta;

  

Us

city government was not accomplished

   
 
   
   
 
   
 
 
  

 

 

     

with tho ,r‘;: r, 01 ion marked the change from.a proprietor
ship Kb 4 awn T'e to secure a city charter resulted in

the drawwng A“ an sci ration as early as 1875 Its passage de
pended uprsy which lasted for many years, and
it finally ow vzn< e ‘ ‘ "‘yive act of June 5, 1889 to incorporate
Pittsfie;w a; a :1; sub] ‘s adoption.by the vote of the town 2

The measc~~ ’ u; u ll 1890 and the result was a vote of

l 9:32; at. the act to 786 opposed 5

 

   

>0 v4 :w‘iired the seleCtmen to div1de the town

' “" y equal voting strength and to arrange
”e first election of city officers The
T to publish lists of legal voters in each
Lectmen 4 The officers to be elected by
0 from each of the seven wards; one
two school committeemen The mayor,
'3 required to meet in joint convention on
following their election to be sworn
_ respective duties after which the two
*o organize The mayor preSided at
n but a president was also to be elected
the mayor The common council elected its
“he iwo hoards acting in joint session con

 

 

   

CJI

   

  
 
  

boaics
meetings
to fund
own ores

stituweo

   

Hie v is 1 :1Cn4 :hief executive officer of the city with the
respons: iii y of ¥$gl g vnm1 Whe laws and ordinances were enforced and

 

haVing ggflvlw]
the po‘
The mayo:
cal? s
the int
of the .
case of
tion by

all subordinate officers This included

lloyee who was found guilty of misconduct

veto as provided by general law and could

,Ve ,ltj council or either branch thereof when

' :ecnired Although he acted as presiding officer

f board of aldermen he had no vote except in

' '“d no outright power of appointment as confirma
” was also required but in all cases in which

 
 
 
 
   
 
 
  

    
 

 

 

 

   

1 AC L :5

2 lhid

3 T ow n ‘

d Acrs i eh ill 57
o lbid 9

E -cid 12

'*’ I b1 (1 j, ‘5

8 lbid l

 

   

Governmental Organization

 
 
   
    
 
   
  
   
   
   
  
   
  
  
  
 
  
   
 

the charter provided for joint election of officers by the mayor and
board of alderman the exclusive power of nomination was vested in the
mayor 1 This applied to the Chief of police2 and the chief engineer of
the fire department;3 together with such personnel of those departments
which the city council might by ordinance establish.

To the city council was given the power to elect the city treasurer;
the city clerk‘ tax collector city physiciane city solicitor, and a city
auditor All the officers named were chosen for a onemyear term, and an
could be removed by the C ty council for sufficient cause 4 The city
council was required to establish the following boards consisting of three
members each Board of a sessors,b board of overseers of the poor;6 board
of public works,7 board 0 health,8 and board of commissioners of the
sinking fund 9 Additional responsibilities placed upon the city council
included the establishment of ordinances and bylaws, provided that these
did not conflict with bylaws of the town already in force Town regulation
continued effective under city government until repealed or amended by the
city council l0 That body was given the sole right to make appropriations
and was required to see that all officers entrusted with the receipt,

i custody, or expenditure of city funds were properly bonded It had the
responsibility for the care and management of all city property11 and, with
the approval of the mayor, authority to order the laying out, relocation,
discontinuance? or repair of all public streets and ways 12

1 :

.r ,llin even,_ .A r__i

The act of incorporation dissolved the fire district whose property
and liabilities passed to the city 15 Other special acts pertaining to
the town of Pittsfield which had been duly accepted, continued in force
unless repealed by the city 14

The school committee consisted of 14 members and the mayor acting as
ex offiCio chairman lt was required that the committee should eleCt a
president to serve in the absence of the mayor? a secretary, and a

 

     

:1011s
;he
)ns

rith

    

Governmental Organization

representative to attend the meetings of the board of aldermen and common
council The above officers were from the membership of the committee
but it was specified that the superintendent, whom the c: " as was also
empowered to anpoint. should not be from their own nWHH e was a
radical departure from the procedure under the town school comm1t1ee

  
     

counci“ ? 1 L. :aiiely

 
 
   
      

When the city charter went into effect
1

 

proceeded to pass the ordinances required r the the

H - , - 1 1 ~ 1 , - r; v. ‘3
governmental organization These included tn; adoption or seal 4
the establishment of the form of warrant to be used for munl elections

   

 

together with the methods of serVing and our‘io the

tions as to 1h nancial nrocednre4 and the assessment and

taxes 5 1ogulations controlling the 1"unrt ions and duties L, , 1

establishment of salaries.7 rules pertaining to tmi use or public :
l

 

including the laying out of streets 8 adoption 0; water rates 9 t“
and buildingl0 regulations sewer ass ESLLTTOJWJ and the esr dolisiment of
local licenses 12 They also adopted rul es covering 1e board of alderme n15
and the common council 14 and joint :rULes for the city couimil 15 These
covered the parliamentary orocedurerfl'meeiings the rights and. d_t1ties of
members: order of business and the es tatlishment of standing committees

in the board of aldermen the following standing committees were appointed
Elections and returns? ordinances and resolutions licenses weights and
measures_ state and military aid and soldiers relief and a police com~
mittee 16 The common council established only two standing committees: one
on elections and returns and one on ordinances and resolutions The city
council_ however‘ created 15 joint standing committees of which each of

the following cons1sted of two aldermen and three members of the common
council Committees on accounts almshouse and poor fir e department. fuel

 

and lightsy highway bridges and culverts, ordinances . in‘11ing public
l Acts 1889 ch 4ll sec 30
2 Ordinances City of Pittsfield 1892 on a in Cc nJIed

Ordinances see entry 45

5 lbid , ch 3

4 ‘lbid ‘ ch 4

5 Ibid ch 5

6 lbid chs 6 8, 12 14
7 Ibid , oh 0

8 lbic , chs 10 ll

9 lbid > ch 15
lO lbid J ch 17
ll lbid , ch 16

3“

a- loid chs 18 20
15 ‘Revised Qrdinances

t0
1—1-

CI

{—I

11—h
11—“
i(D

-‘ I-“
£91
1—:
CO
KO
14>
“:5

Ll
g;
“CI

in Comoiled

QTQEE§DQQS1 see entry 45

14 .lbid p 154
15 .lbidmu p 145
16 l .id «1 P 14:”

  

  

 

Governmental Organization

 

r‘l'u

instruction, public property, salaries, sewers and main drains Hie com
mittee on assessment and collection of taxes consisted of one alderman

and two members of the common council, the committee on claims consisted

of the mayor two alderman“ the president and two members of the common
council, the finance committee was composed of the mayor, two aldermen,

the president and four members of the common council, and the committee

on water included two aldermen‘ the president and two members of the common
counc1l L

An additional a ct of the state legislature passed on June 5, 1890,
became eiiective when the city government was 1_naugurated in January. l891
This awth01 H231 the city to construct a system of sewerage; provided for
the f1nanc1_g of the preject_ and established a board of three commissions
of sewers to re app cinted by the mayor subject to the conlirnation of the
board of alderman 2 1n l895 the sewer commissioners were eliminated and
the care and main" enance of sewers placed under the control of the board
of public works

9:]: r

i, . might appea to have been entirely satisfactory but in practice
it was round to 11rov1de plenty of opportunit ty for conflict between the

two bodies : "ms ng the City council

)s to revise the city charter a legislative act was
5 IQBZ and was presented to the voters of the city

gati/es The_new charter became effective on the
ry1954 .All prev1ous acts not inconsistent with it
force, while those at variance with it were repealed 4

 

about by this revised charter were far reaching
abolition of both the boar d of alderman and the
substitution of a city council 5 The membership
' was reduced from El, the combined figure of the
Seven of these office holders were to be elected,
one each from the seven wards, the other four being elected at large
Municipal elections became biennial to take place on the Tu e-‘day after
1' first llom1day of November in each odd- numbered year and to be called
on warrants issued by order of the mayo or and city council The City
counCil was authorized to establish by ordinance the form and metl