MARTINS FERRY — Things got heated between Mayor John Davies and Martins Ferry Volunteer Fire Department Chief II Justin Smith during a Martins Ferry City Council meeting Wednesday.

The disagreement arose from an ordinance that states: “That the 2018 Ford Fire Chief vehicle with approximately 32,699.5 miles is no longer needed for any municipal purpose will be sold to the Bridgeport Fire Department for $10,000.”

Davies told council he had a couple questions about the ordinance.

“It says that it is no longer needed for any municipal purpose. Who decided that it wasn’t needed anywhere in the city?” Davies asked.

He said his second question related to section 4 of the ordinance, which states: “The council hereby declares this Ordinance to be an emergency measure necessary for the preservation of the peace, health and safety of the citizens of the city, and for the further reason that it is of great importance to immediately provide for the proper and usually daily operation of the government of the city.”

Davies asked council how the ordinance would benefit the city.

“That’s my question, and I’d like to have that answered,” he said. “Because when this gets out in the public, I’m going to have to be able to answer it.”

As council members remained silent, Smith responded to Davies.

“I can answer on the behalf of the fire department,” Smith said. “Chief Ron Hilton and myself had no discussion internally with the safety or service director whether or not the vehicle was needed elsewhere within the city limits of the municipality of Martins Ferry.”

He added that the promise to sell the vehicle was made to Bridgeport’s Fire Department under a previous fire department administration and that it is the department’s stance that it wants to honor the agreement.

“My thing is that we have departments inside the city that can use these vehicles, and I mean this ordinance is untrue. It’s an untrue statement” Davies said.

Smith reiterated that due to the MFVFD no longer needing the vehicle, it made the decision to sell it to Bridgeport. Davies interrupted, reiterating that the ordinance states that no other department needs the vehicle. Smith responded that he had not seen the ordinance, which led Davies to give him his copy of the ordinance.

Davies again said that the ordinance states the vehicle is not needed for any municipal purpose, which he believes is a false statement.

“We have an EMS department that could use another vehicle for transport that would directly benefit our citizens,” Davies said. “So selling this at half of its net worth … to another municipality doesn’t benefit our citizens.”

Smith disagreed with Davies, saying that the sale of the vehicle would benefit the residents of Martins Ferry because the money from the sale of the vehicle will be going to the fire department.

“If you guys are unaware, we have $500,000 worth of equipment that expires in June of 2025,” Smith said. “In June of 2025, the Martins Ferry Volunteer Fire Department has $500,000 worth of equipment that needs to be replaced because it’s met its life expectancy. The Martins Ferry Fire Department can use that $10,000 – not the squad for another vehicle, not the city for another vehicle to drive around with.”

Davies replied that he is confused why the department would sell the vehicle for $10,000 when he said it is worth $20,000.

Councilman Benjamin Neiman replied that Bridgeport and Martins Ferry fire departments have a longstanding mutual understanding that they help each other out.

“They help us out, we help them out,” Neiman said. “I was in the fire department. I got in around 1971, and we’ve always had mutual aid amongst the fire departments. We’d get fire hoses from Bridgeport, we’d give them vehicles years ago, and to sell that truck for under its net worth, we’re just trying to be good partners with them.”

He added that because of the longstanding positive relationship between the two fire departments, he wouldn’t second guess selling the truck to Bridgeport for less than market value.

“They help us out so much that I wouldn’t think for a second about not selling them that truck to help them out,” Neiman said.

After the lengthy discussion, council unanimously approved the ordinance permitting the sale.