Council Approves Advisory Deal, Pavilion Plan
Reading City Council voted Monday to authorize a sole source advisory agreement and amend a pavilion agreement at William Penn Memorial Tower.
Updated on Nov. 10, 2026 in Financial Planning
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Reading City Council voted Monday night to authorize a sole source professional services agreement with Morgan Boyd, doing business as Paper Plan Advisory, covering technical advisory services on state economic development programs and tax incentive structuring. Council also amended the city's memorandum of understanding with Pagoda Skyline Inc. to allow construction of a pavilion at William Penn Memorial Tower.
Why it matters
The agreement is part of the administration's plans to attract businesses into the downtown area by leveraging state programs. Because the contract was awarded without competitive bidding, it raises questions about how the city selects consultants for economic development work.
The initial advisory agreement is set at $4,500 per month for one year, with an optional second year at $6,000 per month. The source does not indicate whether the second-year option will be exercised.
The players
Reading City Council
The elected legislative body of Reading, Pennsylvania, which approved both the advisory agreement and the amended pavilion memorandum.
Pagoda Skyline Inc.
The company responsible for constructing and maintaining the proposed pavilion at William Penn Memorial Tower under the amended agreement with the city.
The details
The advisory work covers state economic development programs and tax incentive structuring, and Morgan Boyd is a former special assistant to the secretary at the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development. Separately, the pavilion will be a 30-foot by 40-foot structure about 30 feet south of the tower, maintained by Pagoda Skyline, which did not request city funding.
Timeline
Monday (Nov. 9, 2026): Council voted to authorize the advisory services agreement.
Two weeks before the vote: Pagoda Skyline representatives addressed council about the pavilion.
Financial Planning Context
The advisory agreement ties Reading's downtown recruitment efforts directly to Pennsylvania's economic development and tax incentive programs, a pattern of municipalities using outside advisers to navigate state incentive structures. Whether the sole source selection becomes a precedent for future consultant hiring will depend on how council handles similar contracts.
Residents and business owners downtown may see new incentive-driven recruitment efforts if the advisory work produces results. The pavilion would add a 30-foot by 40-foot venue used for special events throughout the year, maintained by Pagoda Skyline at no city cost.
The takeaway
Local economic development decisions often hinge on consultant contracts that bypass competitive bidding, so reading the terms of such agreements closely reveals how public money and influence are being directed. Watching whether the advisory work produces measurable downtown investment will show whether the approach is working.
Further reading
For related coverage, see Financial Planning in Reading.
Source note: This article includes information reported by WFMZ.
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