Town’s old vehicles put up for bid

SHREWSBURY - With a surplus of vehicles and equipment in town, Shrewsbury is looking to sell cars, trucks and vans from the 1980s and 1990s.

Assistant Town Manager Michael Hale said the town is selling these vehicles that have either been replaced by newer models or were confiscated by the Police Department.

“These are all vehicles that have been replaced or are beyond their useful life for the town,” Hale said.

While some of the vehicles, including two mowers, will be sold for parts, others, such as a 1993 Ford F350 XL and a 1994 Chevrolet Caprice are in good condition, said Hale.

During the past few years, Hale said the town has sold excess vehicles about once a year.

“We’ve done it a number of times and we’ve had pretty good success,” said Hale. “We’ve done it about 4 or 5 times in the last 4 or 5 years.”

While most of the vehicles have over 100,000 miles on them, Hale said the town is looking to sell the vehicles at a fair price for both the town and the customers.

“We’re not going to take a dollar, but we will take a fair price,” he said.

The money the town receives from the sale of the vehicles will go into the town’s General Fund with the exception of the sale of vehicles confiscated by the police. That money will go into a special account for police investigations, said Hale.

In June, the town sold a 1982 custom ladder truck, which was taken out of service, on eBay for $4,900, which went into the town’s General Fund.

The town also sold a retired 1986 Boston Whaler police boat on eBay about a year and a half ago and received $7,300 for the boat.

Hale said in a past interview that the idea to sell out-of-date equipment came from the School Department, who successfully sold multiple pieces of shop equipment several years ago.

The 19 vehicles, which range from sedans, including a 1992 Toyota and a 1989 Chevrolet, to pickup trucks to SUVs, are currently being stored at the Highway Department’s garage on South Street and are available for viewing Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

All vehicles are being sold as is and come with no warranties. All offers must be in writing and sent to the office of the Town Manager in a sealed envelope marked “sealed bid” with the item number and the vehicle description written on the outside of the envelope.

Payment in full should be made within three business days of the award of the vehicle.

Bids must be received by Dec. 17 at 11 a.m. where the bids will be opened publicly.

For a full list of vehicles and their descriptions visit here.

NEWS SOURCE