Amherst finance committee sends two measures to council to resume internet auctions for surplus property

The Amherst Finance Committee voted 7-0 on March 10 to send Resolution 25-11 and Ordinance 25-10 to the city council with emergency designations, authorizing the sale of municipally owned personal property by internet auction through the 2029 calendar year.

A city staff member told the committee the city's prior authorization for internet auction sales had expired and that the two measures — a resolution and an accompanying ordinance — are needed to resume routine online sales of obsolete or unneeded property. The staff member said the city currently has a “couple [of] old cars” ready for disposal and has used internet auctions in past cycles, typically about every five years.

Resolution 25-11 would authorize the sale of municipally owned personal property that is not needed for public use or that is obsolete or unfit for its original use by internet auction pursuant to Ohio Revised Code section 721.15(D). Ordinance 25-10 would authorize the safety-service director to sell, through calendar year 2029, municipally owned personal property with an estimated value of $1,000 or more by internet auction under the same Ohio Revised Code provision. The committee discussed the need for both a resolution and an ordinance to permit the sales; staff said both are required to finalize the city's existing auctions.

Committee members moved both items to the floor of council with emergency designations. Mister Janek moved to take Resolution 25-11 to the floor as written with emergency, and Mister Heberlin seconded; the motion passed 7-0. For Ordinance 25-10, a motion to take the ordinance to the floor with emergency was moved and seconded during the meeting and passed 7-0.

The measures were presented as procedural steps to restore the city's ability to dispose of surplus vehicles and other property by internet auction; the committee did not adopt final sale terms or list specific items beyond the staff comment about a few old cars. The committee adjourned at 6:48 p.m.

The items will next appear before the full Amherst City Council for consideration; the committee record shows the committee recommended forwarding both measures with emergency designations but does not record a council final vote in this meeting.