Pittsfield pool project receives $25,000 grant

PITTSFIELD – Business was brief at Tuesday night’s Town Council meeting, but it was good news that occupied most of the discussion.

Town Manager Kathryn Ruth announced that the town had been approved for a $25,000 Land and Water Conservation grant for the Pittsfield pool project.

Ruth said the money will be used for lighting, fencing and bathhouse repairs.

Councilors then discussed the possibility of 200 jobs coming to town. Global Contact Services, an insurance-focused call center based in Virginia, is seeking at least 200 local workers and is holding a job fair Thursday, Jan. 17, and Friday, Jan. 18, at the municipal building.

Ruth said that through an intensive campaign to let area people know about the potential jobs, more than 200,000 households had been reached in 36 communities. GCS is looking at three other possible call center locations and will select Pittsfield if the work force is sufficient, Ruth said.

Councilors also set two public hearings for Feb. 5 on tax-acquired property, and signed a countywide agreement for mutual aid and the 2008 Emergency Operations Plan for the town. They also authorized the purchase of a new pickup truck for Pittsfield Water Works and a sludge study for the wastewater treatment facility lagoons.

Ruth also announced there will be a library open house at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 12, and a business forum is being organized for March 25.