The inhabitants of the city of Pittsfield, within the territorial
limits established by law, shall continue to be a municipal corporation,
a body corporate and politic, under the name "City of Pittsfield."
This instrument shall be known and may be cited as the City
of Pittsfield charter.
The administration of the fiscal, prudential and municipal affairs
of the city of Pittsfield shall be vested in an executive branch headed
by a mayor and a legislative branch consisting of a city council.
The legislative branch shall never exercise any executive power and
the executive branch shall never exercise any legislative power.
Subject only to express limitations on the exercise of any power
or function by a municipal government in the constitution or General
Laws, it is the intention and the purpose of the voters of Pittsfield,
through the adoption of this charter, to secure for themselves and
their government all of the powers it is possible to secure as fully
and as completely as though each power were specifically and individually
enumerated in this charter.
The powers of the city of Pittsfield under this charter are to be construed liberally in favor of the city and the specific mention of any particular power is not intended to limit the general powers of the city as stated in section 1-4.
Subject only to express limitations in the constitution or General
Laws, the city of Pittsfield may exercise any of its powers or perform
any of its functions and may participate in the financing thereof,
jointly or in cooperation, by contract or otherwise, with the commonwealth
or any of its agencies or political subdivisions, or with the United
States government or any of its agencies.
As used in this charter, the following words shall, unless the
context clearly requires otherwise, have the following meanings:
This charter and any adopted amendments to it.
The city of Pittsfield.
Any multiple member body, any department, division or office
of the city of Pittsfield.
A person having charge of a city office or department.
A site established and maintained by the city as its online
repository of municipal information, whether on the Internet or accessed
through another comparable technology.
A sudden, generally unexpected occurrence or set of circumstances
demanding immediate action.
The entire authorized membership of the city council, notwithstanding
any vacancy which might exist.
The entire authorized membership of a multiple member body,
notwithstanding any vacancy that exists.
The entire authorized membership of the school committee,
notwithstanding any vacancy that exists.
A measure proposed by the voters through the initiative process
provided under this charter.
A newspaper of general circulation within Pittsfield, with
either a weekly or daily circulation.
When used in connection with a meeting of a multiple member
body, shall mean a majority of those present and voting, unless another
provision is made by ordinance or by such body's own rules; provided,
however, that General Laws related to any vote to meet in executive
session shall always require a majority of the full multiple member
body.
Any ordinance, order or other vote or proceeding adopted,
or which might be adopted, by the city council or the school committee.
Any council, commission, committee, subcommittee or other
body consisting of two or more persons, whether elected, appointed
or otherwise constituted, but not including the city council, the
school committee or an advisory committee appointed by the mayor.
A plan submitted by the mayor to the city council which proposes
a change in the organization or the administrative structure of the
city administration or organization or a change in the way in which
municipal services are delivered.
A majority of all voting members of a multiple member body
unless some other number is required by law or by ordinance.
An election to remove an elected official from office before
the expiration of the term for which elected.
A measure adopted by the city council or the school committee
that is protested under the referendum procedures of this charter.
When a person ceases to be domiciled within the territorial
limits of the city or a ward.
Registered voters of the city of Pittsfield.
A calendar year, unless otherwise specified.
