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Select Board declines to donate old engine, approves $12,000 sale to West Forks volunteers
Summary
The Rondal Select Board rejected a motion to donate a 2001 fire engine to a volunteer department, then approved accepting a $12,000 bid from West Forks Volunteer Fire Department after debate over taxpayer perception and departmental needs.
The Rondal Select Board on June 8 debated whether to donate a 2001 International E1 fire engine to the West Forks Volunteer Fire Department or accept the department's $12,000 bid.
Town staff said the vehicle had been put out to bid per town policy and the only bid received was a $12,000 offer from West Forks. One board member, Phil, moved to donate the vehicle, citing the demands on small volunteer departments: "Whatever they can get for help, they more than deserve it," he said. Supporters framed donation as a charitable act to aid a small, resource-limited volunteer department.
Opponents cautioned about the appearance of making a charitable contribution when a qualifying bid had been submitted and about the message to taxpayers. After debate, the donation motion failed on a 3-2 vote. The board then moved to accept the $12,000 bid from West Forks; that motion passed with one opposition recorded.
The board's sequence of votes leaves the vehicle in West Forks' possession through sale rather than by donation, and the accepted bid will generate $12,000 in proceeds for the town. Select board members discussed that $12,000 was modest but cited RFP and fairness considerations in deciding to accept the bid.
