When he was interviewing in 2015 for a job with Pittsfieldâs Building Maintenance Department, James Esoldi learned, to his delight, that he would be able to commute to work in a city-owned vehicle.
That long had been city policy, because as a project supervisor, Esoldi could get called to duty at any time from his home in North Adams. It saved Esoldi about $40 a week in commuting costs. In fact, being able to use the pickup truck played into his decision to take the job.
When the city abruptly halted Esoldiâs use of the pickup to commute in fall 2019, during a pitched mayoral election battle, it raised political questions. And it prompted Esoldi, a member of the Pittsfield Supervisory and Professional Employees Association, to seek relief through the state Department of Labor Relations.