Purchase of municipal almshouses by county

When a board of chosen freeholders of a county in which no county almshouse exists shall determine to purchase or build a county almshouse, and there is then in the county one or more almshouses owned or maintained by a municipality or municipalities therein, the county shall purchase such almshouse or almshouses and its or their equipment at a price to be agreed upon by the board of chosen freeholders and the governing body or bodies of the municipality or municipalities, if they can agree thereupon; except that a municipality or municipalities may retain the almshouse and equipment for any municipal use or purpose, in which case the county need not purchase them. If the board and the governing body or bodies cannot agree upon the price to be paid for an almshouse and its equipment, then the price shall be fixed by three appraisers, one to be appointed by the board of freeholders, one by the governing body or bodies, and a third to be selected by the two appraisers; and the price to be paid shall be that fixed by all or any two of the appraisers in writing, signed by them. Upon the payment by the board of freeholders to the governing body or bodies of the price agreed upon, or the price fixed by the appraisers, the governing body or bodies shall convey and transfer the almshouse and equipment to the county.