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Pittsfield Paid $80K In Moving Costs to 100 North St.
By Andy McKeever, iBerkshires Staff
02:48AM / Wednesday, May 27, 2015
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The City Council requested a detailed list of the expenses to move the inspection services to 100 North St.
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The city spent $80,000 to move the inspection services to 100 North.
 
In response to a request from Councilor at Large Barry Clairmont, Mayor Daniel Bianchi's office provided a detailed account of the expenses to move the health, building, utilities, fire, a community development agent and a conservation agent offices to the mezzanine level of 100 North St.
 
The total was $80,873.91
 
The largest expenditure was $17,150 for information technology services from Comalli Group. That coupled with $5,980 for Comm-Tract to run fiber wire to the units, $4,434 for a port switch/fiber transceiver module from Unified, wireless access point for $1,464 from PC Plus, and remote access licenses from the Bomgar Corp. for $4,412, adds up to $33,441 that came from unclassified budget
 
The Department of Public Works spent $20,658 of its budget, the largest of which was $16,682 for Carlow and Zepka Construction to install a conduit line for communications. A number of expenses include moving boxes for $94, a storage cabinet $85, a book case for $339, a file cabinet $541, and bulletin boards for $107, all from WB Mason; and boxes for the second moving phase for $403 and a $514 safe from NE Office Supply. Signs from Callahan Signs Inc. have yet to be billed but will cost $1,490.
 
The city spent $18,481 from enterprise funds to pay Mullen Movers and Storage $8,341 two times to move the offices. Scarafoni Associates also billed the city $1,800 to install a handicap accessible counter.
 
The Health Department spent $6,834 for installation and $5,525 for furniture from BBE Office Interiors; moving boxes from WB Mason for $108; electrical work from Gable Electric for $501; and $700 in signs from Callahan Signs.
 
Callahan signs has yet to bill the building inspectors $700 for their signs. 
 
The city paid the $171 to have an officer work overtime while workers dug a trench in Allen Street to run the wiring to the building. The Department of Community Development spent $157 for phone services from Telserve LLC., and bought two chairs from NE Office Supply for $412, totaling $569. The Fire Department bought a clock from NE Office Supply for $17.39 for the inspector's office.
 
The first year rent cost the city $105,000, which came from the city's unclassified budget. However, that was not presented in the itemized list.
 
"I was under the understanding that the petition was for the costs associated with the move itself," said Director of Administrative Services Julia Sabourin, who prepared the itemized list.
 
The relocation of the inspections services from City Hall was somewhat controversial because many members of the City Council were not consulted about the move ahead of time. Bianchi issued the request for proposals and negotiated a lease under executive order, which is allowable under the charter. However, councilors said since the move would require future budgeting to pay the lease, they should have been involved in the decision-making process.
 
The mayor cited numerous reasons for the move including poor health conditions in the City Hall basement where the offices were located, which ultimately became part of the collective bargaining with inspectors. The departments can't move back to the basement unless an air-exchange system system is installed. Additional benefits the mayor cited for the move were convenience — it would be easier for current and prospective businesses to get all of the permits they need.
 
Clairmont wanted the expenses outlined, saying that if those expenses are no longer needed then they could be cut from the fiscal 2016 budget.
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