PITTSFIELD, Mass. - Although COVID-19 cases  in Pittsfield have sharply declined over the past month, the City Council won't be returning to in-person meetings for the foreseeable future.

At its meeting this week, the council voted 8 to 3 to file a petition requesting the council resume in-person meetings.

Councilors have used Zoom for a year now, which has caused difficulties for some residents who want to speak. And some meetings have lasted longer than usual because of technical difficulties.

Council president Peter Marchetti said he's keeping an eye on what other city councils across the state are doing and returning in-person now would most likely mean having to turn people away due to capacity limits.​

Marchetti said, "Especially as we approach the budget season, there's been a lot of communication in regards to the police department budget, and there's always a lot of communication in regards to the school department budget. I don't want to schedule a budget hearing and then have to cancel it because I have to turn people away and we have an open meeting law violation."

Marchetti said he will make every effort to return to in-person meetings once Governor Charlie Baker says it's safe to do so, including exploring the possibility of meeting at larger venues, such as a school auditorium, rather than council chambers.