PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Police escorted former mayoral candidate Craig Gaetani from the City Council meeting Tuesday night and a no trespass order could be in the works.

 

Gaetani has been a repeated thorn in the side of the City Council for almost two years. Tuesday isn't the first time Police were called to the chambers but it was the first time he was actually escorted out.

 

City Council President Peter Marchetti says he will now seek a no trespass order to keep him from returning.

 

"Since this isn't the first experience we've had, I'll weigh my options for filing a no trespass order so our future meetings won't be disrupted," Marchetti said.

 

Gaetani has a long history of using threatening and insulting language when addressing the council and ignoring the president's orders - both current president Marchetti and former Council President Melissa Mazzeo. He often has long-winded statements, goes over the allotted time, and has been ruled out of order on many occasions. Several times his refusal to stop speaking has led the council to take recesses from its meeting.

 

"To me, it is a case of some people don't think the rules apply to them. I don't want to speak for my colleagues, but myself and all of my colleagues have had enough," Marchetti said. "This isn't the Craig Gaetani show. This is the Pittsfield City Council where we have the important business we need to address."

 

On Tuesday Gaetani arrived about five minutes late to the meeting, missing his chance to sign up to speak during the council's open microphone period. But, Gaetani approached the podium to speak anyway while Marchetti was moving the meeting on. Gaetani began to provide comments and Marchetti gaveled him out of order, asking him to refrain from speaking.

 

But Gaetani continued and Marchetti called a five-minute recess, at which time Gaetani said he'd still be waiting with the intent to speak.

 

A few minutes later three officers arrived in the chambers and asked him to leave. Gaetani refused at first and police handcuffed him. He then walked out with the officers. 

 

He was arrested and charged with disorderly conduct. 

 

"Mr. Gaetani is no stranger to the Pittsfield City Council. He knows the rules. We run a meeting to do the people's business. There is an opportunity for the folks to speak at open mic and they need to sign up before the meeting starts. Their ability to speak is at the discretion of the chair and I clearly asked the gentleman to stop speaking. He refused to stop speaking so I used my powers to have him escorted from the building," Marchetti said.

 

The council president said he'll consult with legal council on Wednesday and pursue a no trespass order. It would be the second city office Gaetani would be banned from.

 

Gaetani had previously had a no trespass order placed on him for the city offices at 100 North Street after he was accused of threatening a clerk in the Fire Department. That led to criminal charges in court while he maintained that he had not threatened her and that instead the charges were "trumped up" by city officials in an attempt to discredit his mayoral campaign. 

 

A major point of his contention is his claims that he invented the technology used to build the city's water treatment plant. He says he was a director of Krofta Engineering and the technology has saved the city millions - though the exact number has changed nearly every time he has addressed the council. Gaetani continues to demand access to the treatment plant but has been refused by city officials.

 

Marchetti said Gaetani had called him on Tuesday afternoon once again demanding access to the plant. 

 

In 2015 Gaetani launched a campaign for mayor but was defeated during the primary in which he received just 3 percent of the vote - 176 total votes. In the November election, he received 57 write-in votes. Gaetani is routinely in the police logs, being arrested on various warrants, and also hosts a show on Pittsfield Community Television.