ALBANY — Albany County has agreed to pay a public relations firm more than $100,000 per year to promote the county’s economic development efforts despite receiving at least one other bid offering similar services at a fraction of the price.
At its May 13 meeting, the county’s Contract Administration Board voted to award the $133,500 contract to the Baker Agency, a well-known Albany-based public relations firm.
In her brief presentation to the board, Chief Communications Officer Mary Rozak said the county had received proposals from 18 agencies. She told the board that the county was seeking “a qualified firm that has a strong history with economic development for our marketing, media relations, social media management (and) communications because Albany County, in its most recent history, has had the need now for some strong economic development communications.”…