Whenever the governing body of a municipality shall by resolution determine that a particular parcel or parcels of real estate, scheduled to be sold at public auction pursuant to the tax sale law, would be useful for a public purpose, it may authorize and direct a municipal official to attend the auction and bid for such parcel or parcels at such sale on behalf of the municipality in the same manner as any other bidder.
N.J.S. § 54:5-30.1