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Clarks Summit volunteer fire company asks council for first right to retired police vehicle
Summary
The Clarks Summit Fire Company asked the borough council Oct. 1 for first consideration to acquire a soon-to-be-retired police cruiser to convert into an EMS response vehicle; council members raised procurement and precedent concerns and agreed to research legal and procedural options.
Joe Goproff identified himself at the Oct. 1 Clarks Summit Borough Council meeting as fire chief of the Clarks Summit Fire Company and said his organization is interested in acquiring a police vehicle the borough plans to retire. Goproff said converting the vehicle into an EMS response unit would save substantial equipment and upfitting costs because it already has flashing lights, wiring and related installations.
Goproff told council the fire company would be willing to buy the vehicle or accept a donation but asked that the borough give the company a first opportunity to negotiate before the vehicle is disposed or auctioned. He said the vehicle’s existing wiring, light bar and other upfitting would reduce the fire company’s conversion costs.
Council members responded that borough policy has typically been to sell retired vehicles at auction to obtain the highest return for taxpayers. One council member said giving an organization preferential access to retired borough property could create a perception problem and asked the borough solicitor to review the legalities. Goproff said the fire company would accept a negotiated purchase at fair market value and would prefer to keep the vehicle in local service.
No formal vote or transfer was recorded. Council members asked staff to research options and legal constraints — including whether a donation or direct sale to a volunteer organization would be permissible — and to report back to the council with guidance.
Why it matters: If the borough allows a municipal vehicle to transfer directly to a volunteer fire company, the transfer approach could set a precedent for future disposals of public property. Council members emphasized transparency and the need to ensure the borough complies with procurement rules and obtains fair value if a sale occurs.
What’s next: Borough staff and the solicitor will investigate the borough’s authority to sell or donate the vehicle, the procurement/auction rules that apply, and whether structured arrangements (a public solicitation with a reserved option for local emergency services) are feasible. The fire chief requested first consideration if the vehicle is listed for sale.
