PITTSFIELD – There was quite a crowd Tuesday night at the Pittsfield council meeting – an unusual occurrence. But once the large group of visitors got the name of their road changed, most of them left, leaving councilors to debate the proposed $2.5 million 2006 budget on their own.

The residents were upset because the dead end of Summer Street was planned to be renamed Royal Court as part of the town’s E-911 process. All dead ends less than 1,000 feet long are being renamed courts, and Summer Street had a name too similar to Somerset, councilors explained.

Most of the residents easily accepted the change from street to court, but called the proposed name “Royal Court” undignified and unacceptable.

In the end, the council adopted more than three dozen road changes, setting the former dead end of Summer Street as Summer Court. Once regular business was accomplished the review of the proposed 2006 budget began, with Town Manager Kathryn Ruth providing an overview of both the accomplishments of 2005 and the goals for 2006.

“This is a very conservative budget,” Ruth said.

She said the budget reflects a 2 percent salary increase for all employees and there are no planned changes in the number of town employees nor any reductions in services. Ruth blamed the increase on spiraling fuel costs and salaries.

The proposed budget represents a zero mill increase in property taxes, but councilors are just starting the account-by-account review.

Tuesday night, the council began review of the administration accounts and almost immediately requested more information about whether a full-time code enforcement officer was necessary. Ruth explained that the position often backed up the town office, including assisting her with grant requirements and helping with the E-911 project.

The council asked for a job description for their next review.

The next budget workshop is set for Tuesday, Nov. 15, at which time the following budgets will be reviewed: communications, police, fire, highway, animal control, buildings and grounds, streetlights and cemetery.