READING, Pa. – Reading City Council voted Monday night to authorize a sole source professional services agreement with Morgan Boyd (doing business as Paper Plan Advisory) to provide technical advisory services related to state economic development programs and tax incentive structuring.
The agreement is for one year at a rate of $4,500 per month with the option of an additional year at a rate of $6,000 per month.
A sole source professional services agreement is a contract awarded to a single vendor or consultant without the usual competitive bidding process because the provider offers unique expertise or capabilities.
The agreement is part of the administration’s plans to start attracting businesses into the downtown area by leveraging different state programs.
Boyd said he is a former special assistant to the secretary at the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development.
“It’s clear that the tools are in place in Reading to go out and aggressively attract new investment here,” Boyd said. “You have administration that’s focused on making it easier to do business here in Reading. You have a state administration that is getting very aggressive on business. I think that Reading has the opportunity and needs to go on offense when it looks to attract new investment, both in terms of real estate investment and in terms of business investment.”
Boyd told council the city has a willing partner with the state to make game-changing investments to grow the tax base and bring additional investments and jobs into the city.
William Penn Memorial Tower pavilion
In other business, council voted to amend the city’s memorandum of understanding agreement with Pagoda Skyline Inc. to allow for the construction of a pavilion at the William Penn Memorial Tower.
Representatives from Pagoda Skyline addressed council two weeks ago to explain the proposed 30-foot by 40-foot pavilion would be constructed about 30 feet to the south of the tower and will be used for special events throughout the year.
The amendment to the city’s agreement spells out that Pagoda Skyline will be responsible for the maintenance of the facility.
The organization did not ask the city for any funding for the project, as it is working in collaboration with the Blue Mountain Region Sports Car Club of America, the organization which runs the hill climbs on the mountain.
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