BERGENFIELD — There's a new wrinkle in Bergenfield's attempt to donate a decommissioned firetruck — an interested buyer.

Mayor Norman Schmelz said former Bergenfield Councilman Barry Doll reached out by email Tuesday night to say he wanted to purchase the 1988 Hahn Pumper firetruck that sits at the side of the Alert Fire Company firehouse on West Church Street.

"He wanted to put a bid in to purchase for the Rusty Relics auto club," Schmelz said. The Restored Rusty Relics Antique Auto Club is a group of classic automobile collectors based in northern New Jersey.

Bergenfield had wanted to offer it, free, to the town of Samaná in the Dominican Republic, which needs a pumper truck. But because the truck was paid for with tax money, the donation cannot happen without an appraisal of the truck to find out its value.

Schmelz said previously that if the appraisal was under $1,000 it could be donated, but over $1,000, it would have to be sold in a government auction. He said an appraisal was done that determined it had no value and can't be used for any fire situations.

However, Schmelz said since Doll wants to purchase it, the truck will have to be put up for auction to be open to others interested in buying.

"All of a sudden, the whole thing changes from a possible donation to another country to putting it out to bid," Schmelz said.

Doll said the idea for purchasing the truck for the club came after reading a story in The Record about the borough's efforts to donate it. He said he sent a letter by email to the borough's business administrator expressing his interest.

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"I said, 'Nice to have a firetruck.' That doesn't happen all the time," Doll said.

Doll said he would pay at least $1,000 to acquire the pumper truck, which some of the firefighters told him is working. And if Doll acquired it, he said it would be used in parades that the car club takes part in, such as the annual Memorial Day Parade in Bergenfield and the Fourth of July celebration in River Edge.

And once the truck is in his possession, he definitely wants to drive it. But he has never driven a firetruck before.

"I used to drive trucks in the army. I may have to get another license," Doll said. "But I want to drive it."

Email: kaulessar@northjersey.com