Milford selectmen voted Monday to send two aging, out-of-service fire trucks to state surplus auctions and directed staff to seek auction options for similar low‑value town vehicles going forward.

The action came after Fire Chief Ken Flaherty told the board that a previously offered sale fell through and the vehicle remains in storage at a Pennsylvania dealership, where the highest current offer stood at about $4,000 while estimated shipping to return the truck to Milford would cost about $3,000. "Currently, the highest bid right now is $4,000 or 9¢, on the 100 for scrap for the truck," Flaherty said, describing the dealer’s reported bids and the truck’s poor frame condition.

The board first approved sending the vehicle to the Pennsylvania or New Hampshire state surplus auction if feasible. Vice Chair David Friel made the motion to pursue the state auction option; the motion was seconded by Selectwoman Tina Philberg and carried on a voice vote. The board then separately approved sending a second, nearly identical unit that is expected to be retired when a new truck arrives, to the New Hampshire state auction. "Motion by Mister Friel, seconded by Miss Philbrick... Ayes have it. Motion carries," the chair announced.

Board members debated whether to bring failed sales back to Milford or leave them at the dealer. Selectman Chris Labonte said he felt the town had not been made whole by the failed deal and asked where and how the trucks were advertised. Flaherty said the dealer had listed vehicles via its Facebook page and dealer network in Pennsylvania. Several members pressed for clearer, repeatable guidance on disposing end‑of‑life municipal equipment. Labonte and others expressed reluctance to require a blanket policy and favored a guidance approach with thresholds—for example, directing staff to send vehicles with estimated market value of $5,000 or less directly to auction while submitting higher‑value items to the board for review.

Town Administrator Mike Viola said departments should make reasonable efforts to market surplus items and check whether other town departments can reuse vehicles before sending them to auction. Board members agreed that department heads should document sale efforts and that the town should avoid repeating the procurement and transport costs that left the truck in limbo.

The board instructed staff to contact state surplus auction administrators to determine logistics and to return with recommended written guidance on disposal thresholds and procedures. No additional appropriation was requested; Flaherty said the truck remains in storage and the town has not paid to ship it out.