Riviera Beach OKs donation of surplus ambulance to Freeport after staff vows legal checks

The Riviera Beach City Council approved a resolution on June 3 to donate a decommissioned ambulance to the city of Freeport, Bahamas, part of a reestablished sister‑city relationship.

Eric Reigns, chief of staff for Mayor Douglas Lawson, told the council the ambulance had been identified for surplus and that Freeport would cover shipping and transport costs. "We were in the process of getting this transferred over to the city of Freeport," Reigns said, adding that the former fire chief had initiated the work but that staff still needed to finish required due diligence.

Councilwoman Forcella Davis Paneer, who pulled the item from the consent agenda for discussion, said she supported the donation in principle but wanted assurance the city followed proper legal and procurement steps. Reigns said staff would work with legal and procurement to document the transfer and recommended a city policy be developed to standardize such donations.

Public commenters urged caution. One resident asked the council to prioritize local infrastructure needs, noting roads and parks in Riviera Beach require repairs. Mayor Douglas Lawson and other council members emphasized the economic and fellowship benefits of sister‑city exchanges, saying prior transfers of surplus equipment had been completed without additional city expense.

Council members voted to approve Resolution 6726; the clerk recorded the motion as passing with Council person Lenir marked as absent for the vote. Staff said they would return with completed paperwork and recommended process guidelines to ensure future surplus transfers meet state and city requirements.