WHITEWATER REGION — Whitewater Region staff, council and family members can bid on auction sites for township surplus vehicles and equipment, however, if those items are being sold in any other manner, they will not be able to do so.
“We’re being very clear,” said Robert Tremblay, township Chief Administrative Officer. “Surplus equipment will not go to staff.”
This allows for transparency, he explained.
This item fell under a discussion of refreshing the Surplus Vehicles and Equipment Policy at last week’s Corporate Services committee meeting.
Any money received for the surplus equipment and vehicles will go into the township’s reserves, he said.
Prior to the sale of the items, each will be appraised by a person with appropriate credentials, and experience, to do appraisals, CAO Tremblay said.
It was first suggested that council, staff and family members could not bid on items in an auction, however, Councillor Charlene Jackson pointed out that if it’s on an auction site, such as govdeals.ca, it’s an open process and the items goes to the highest bidder.
“We’re not controlling it, govdeals is,” she said. “The highest bidder gets it (the item).”
CAO Tremblay said even then, there is the perception there may be some discrepancy going on if staff, council or family members purchase an item the township is selling.
“I believe we’re better off to say staff and council can buy equipment elsewhere,” he said.
Councillor Daryl McLaughlin said once the items are put on govdeals, it’s an auction; however, if it’s not through an auction, then he said staff, council and family members should not be able to purchase it.
However, he did question if other municipalities and organizations could purchase the items prior to being listed as surplus.
CAO Tremblay said if that is council’s wish, then yes.
“Council can also decide on another way of disposal,” he said. “(The policy) still allows you some flexibility to do so as needed.”
There will be times when it’s best to use govdeals and other times to use another method of disposal, he said.
Coun. Jackson said, “Govdeals is certainly the way to go. It’s open bidding and that’s the fair way to do it.”
Mayor Hal Johnson said once the township lists the items with govdeals, it probably has no further say as to who can purchase it.
