City Government
Pittsfield City Council
About the Council
Every two years all eleven seats on the Pittsfield City Council go before the voters at once, the way they did in November 2025. That is the power this body answers to. Seven councillors are elected by ward, one from each district of the city, and four are elected at large by every Pittsfield voter. The Council writes the city’s ordinances, sets policy, and votes the budget the Mayor proposes up or down. It cannot write that budget itself, but no dollar gets spent without its approval. This is where a daily problem becomes city policy: a flooded street that needs fixing, a stalled development, the tax rate on your family’s home.
- Sets policy and law by passing ordinances and resolutions.
- Controls the budget by approving or cutting what the Mayor proposes, and by setting the tax rate.
- Checks the Mayor by holding public hearings and overriding vetoes with a two-thirds vote.
Council Members
Four councillors are elected at large by every Pittsfield voter. The other seven each represent a single ward. The Council chooses one of its members as President to run its meetings. For 2026 the President is Earl Persip III and the Vice President is Peter White.
Meetings & How to Participate
- When: the second and fourth Tuesday of each month at 6:00 p.m. in City Hall, 70 Allen Street. In July, August, and December the Council meets only on the second Tuesday.
- Agendas & minutes: posted in advance on the city website at pittsfieldma.gov.
- Public comment: residents may speak on agenda items. Check the agenda for the sign-up procedure.
- Council office: reach the City Council and City Clerk’s office at 413-499-9361.
Sources
Pittsfield City Council (pittsfieldma.gov). Verified July 2026.
What this seat decides
Your Town or City Council
A local ordinance, the city or town budget, or a problem in your own ward or district. The real testimony happens at committee hearings rather than at the full council meeting.
Public hearings and meetings are where residents shape city decisions.