City Council Committee of the Whole Meeting 10/12/26 | City of Reading, PA

The City of Reading City Council Committee of the Whole met on October 12, 2026. The agenda review covered several proposed contract awards: a 2026 Pierce Enforcer 100-foot tiller from Glick Fire Equipment for $972,500, a Deere Gator utility vehicle for $36,012.04 after trade-in, five HVAC unit replacements at the Public Safety Building and 951 Morgantown Road for $86,755, a chlorine-alarm/SCADA system upgrade for $77,436.50 from BSI Electric with Tri J Systems, and a $75,000 youth-violence-prevention planning contract with January Advisors, funded by a PCCD grant. The tiller and utility vehicle were identified as capital purchases; the HVAC work was part of the 2026 capital plan. A $49,329 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant application for police overtime and criminal-forensics software fees was also reviewed, but removed from the consent agenda for a separate vote because a council member disclosed a potential conflict of interest. The transcript does not record final votes on these items.

Representatives of the Berks Coalition on Homelessness and Opportunity House presented a coordinated severe-weather response policy for Code Blue and Code Red, including outreach, daytime centers, overnight shelter, family hotel stays, and supportive services. They requested $350,000 from the city for calendar year 2027 and reported also requesting $350,000 from the county; existing commitments cited included $100,000 from the city, $50,000 from United Way, and $100,000 from the YMS Inc. Foundation. The city administration said its budget submission included the $350,000 request and additional CDBG support for day shelters. An RFP had been issued October 1, with proposals due October 18 and funding decisions planned for late October. Council also discussed extending the interim historic-preservation certificate-of-approval process while the city works with the state on ordinance and governance changes; no vote on the extension is recorded.