City of Taunton, MA Article VII Disposal of Surplus Supplies and Equipment

[Adopted 10-1-2013 (§ 6-96 of the 2010 Code)]

§ 40-28 Guidelines established. [1]

It is the policy of the City that surplus property/equipment that has been determined to be no longer useful for any municipal purpose and has a resale/salvage value of less than $5,000 may be sold, donated or discarded in accordance with the following guidelines.

[1] Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. II).

§ 40-29 Discard or donation of items with little value.

Upon receipt of the written approval of the Mayor, City department heads may discard or donate surplus supplies/equipment that have a resale or salvage value of less than $500.

§ 40-30 Sale by bid or auction.

Surplus supplies/equipment having a resale or salvage value of $500 or more but less than $5,000 may be sold or donated with the Mayor's written approval of the plan to sell (bid/auction) such supplies/equipment.

A. The department's plan to sell by bid or auction the surplus supplies/equipment will including the following:

(1) A bidding notice or notice of sale by auction, including:

(a) Complete description of the surplus supplies/equipment.

(b) A notification of when, where and how the surplus supplies/equipment may be inspected.

(c) All terms and conditions of the sale.

(d) The place and deadline for the submission of bids or place and time of auction.

(e) A statement that the City retains the right to reject any and all bids.

(2) Posting a notice at City Hall and in a newspaper with general circulation in the local area with all terms and conditions delineated in the notices of sale.

(3) Full and proper documentation/recording of the transaction(s) in conformity with all terms and conditions delineated in the notices of sale.

B. If the governmental body rejects the bid of the highest bidder, the governmental body may:

(1) Negotiate a sale of such supply/equipment, so long as the negotiated sale price is higher than the bid price.

(2) Resolicit bid process.

§ 40-31 Use for purchase of new supplies or equipment.

The City's procurement officer may choose to utilize the surplus supplies/equipment as a "trade in" in process of purchasing new supplies/equipment.

§ 40-32 Disposition of proceeds.

All proceeds from the sale of surplus supplies/equipment shall be deposited into the City's reserve/revolving account.

§ 40-33 Donation to charitable organizations.

Surplus supplies/equipment with an estimated resale or salvage value of less than $5,000 may be donated to an organization that has an IRS tax-exempt status by reason of its charitable nature, by a majority vote of the Municipal Council.