• Elected officials won’t get to bid on surplus items

By JEFFERSON WEAVER
Staff Writer

Government auctions are gold mines for bargain hunters, but Whiteville’s City Council won’t join the bidders Sept. 14.

To avoid any appearance of impropriety, the board voted Tuesday to prohibit members of the city council from bidding on items at the city’s next surplus auction. Cars, trucks, a van, tools, computers and other extra equipment will go on the auction block in the first city auction since 2005.

The times and conditions for the auction will be completed at a later date, and the full list of items to be sold will be published in The News Reporter prior to the sale.

Most of the vehicles are worn out, Mayor Dial Gray said, and many of the electronics are outdated.

“This isn’t first line stuff,” the mayor said, “although I’m sure it’ll be fine for somebody.”

Councilman Robert Leder broached the subject, wanting to know if the council would vote to exclude itself as it has for previous auctions. Councilman Harold Troy supported Leder’s suggestion.

“This would avoid any impression of impropriety,” he said.

While the measure passed unanimously, several board members weren’t enthusiastic about forbidding themselves from bidding.

Gray pointed out that “the only way to influence an auction is to be the highest bidder.

“I don’t think any of our council would try to do anything the wrong way,” he said. Gray explained he doubted an auctioneer would accept a “bid of $100 instead of $150” because the bidder was a council member.

Councilmen Troy, Leder, Tim Blackmon and Jimmy Clarida said they felt the move would show “good faith” to others attending the auction.

“This will help us avoid negative public perception of any kind,” Troy said.

The measure was approved on a motion by Blackmon and a second by Leder.

Councilman Howard Jones said he might have someone place a bid for him on one particular item.

“I just wanted to buy a typewriter,” Jones said. “That’s the only thing I saw that interested me.”