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City Council hired two economic development consulting firms Thursday for no more than $168,000 a year and agreed to three-year contracts with review in a year.
Keller Company and Partners of Washington, D.C. and Delta Development Group of Mechanicsburg will work for no more than $7,000 a month.
Thomas Keller, owner, said his goal will be to “capture everything he can for the city.”
Teresa Sparacino, Delta vice president of community and economic developmemt, noted the firm has expertise in planning as well as individuals keeping an eye on $160 billion possible for communities in recovery.
The work will begin with a brainstorming session with the city’s economic development team and a review and analysis of every project on the city list, Keller said.
A city man who is sight-impaired has a beef with River Valley Transit. Timothy West, a voting member of the new Williamsport Accessibility Advisory Commission
mmaroney@sungazette.com
City Council is laying out a clear set of goals it believes can help various working committees save taxpayers money, taking the proverbial bull by the horns to steer city programs in a direction where they are more efficient.
Council members dissected where the city committees on finance, economic revitalization, housing needs, public safety, public works and historic preservation were and where each committee chair and member wanted to see upcoming discussions go.
“We can begin cost-saving that might mean radical reenvisioning of departments in the city,” said
Councilwoman Liz Miele, finance committee chairwoman, during an hour-long work session Wednesday.
mmaroney@sungazette.com
City Council’s Ad Hoc City Hall Committee recommended to remain at City Hall, build a handicap accessible ramp and form another committee to explore a public safety building construction.
Councilman Adam Yoder, committee chairman, said over the past seven or eight months the committee looked at the financial and logistical options of either remaining in the building or relocating to Trade and Transit Centres I or II in the 100 block of West Third Street.
By staying in City Hall, if that’s what council votes on, it will mean accessibility projects will be a priority, including a ramp on the west side of the building leading into the police department connecting with the existing ramp.