Columbus City Council last night approved a 6-year, 55 percent income tax break for a manufacturer to move 57 jobs from the Linden area into downtown. Deputy Columbus Development director Quentin Harris says Plaskolite wants to expand its Joyce Avenue operations by moving clerical jobs downtown and making room to hire more engineers.
211 jobs will stay at the company's Joyce Avenue site. Council also approved a 25 percent income tax break for Morgan Stanley to create 300 jobs over the next few years as part of an expansion of its Easton area offices. Hiring will begin later this fall. The jobs will be in support roles. Last month, Morgan Stanley reported quarterly revenue of 8.9 billion dollars. Council also approved a 35 thousand dollar legal settlement with a man who claims a Columbus police officer used excessive force while arresting him in April of 2013. Columbus City Attorney Rick Pfeiffer says the money goes to Mark Aldrich and his lawyers.
Pfeiffer says Aldrich was a suspect in a vehicle theft when he was arrested by officer Kevin Singleton in an alley off West Rich Street. And Council approved raising water and sewer rates next year by 2.9 percent.