City of Washougal could sell camera lens online

The Washougal City Council could decide to sell a camera lens on eBay.

The lens, purchased on May 8, 2009 with a city Visa credit card by former Mayor Stacee Sellers, fit a camera owned by former Finance Director Jeffrey Bivens.

According to a resolution discussed during the council workshop last night, the city has identified the camera lens as unusable since it was purchased for a camera that was not city property.

“This [lens] was more than we would ever need,” Councilman Jon Russell said.

The lens was purchased for $1,280 at Pro Photo Supply, in Portland.

If the city returned the lens, it would only get one-third of the original amount of the purchase as credit.

At the time of the purchase, Bivens was a City Council member. Council approved his hiring as the city’s finance and economic development director on May 18.

Bivens’ employment was terminated on Dec. 7. The search for his successor continues. Mayor Sean Guard said two finalists for the finance director’s position will be interviewed July 7.

City Council is scheduled to vote on a resolution to declare the camera lens as surplus and sell it online during the next regular meeting Monday, at 7 p.m., in the council chambers at City Hall, 1701 “C” St.

Interim Finance Director R.J. Stevenson said the city could get a better price online versus selling the lens at a traditional, in-person surplus sale.

“It sounds like a good idea,” Councilwoman Molly Coston said.

“Let’s get rid of that thing,” Guard said.

After the workshop, he said any auction proceeds from the sale of the camera lens would go to the city’s general fund.