SACO — A final decision on whether or not to buy a new rescue boat has yet to be made as the city continues to await word from Biddeford.

After much back-and-forth discussion Monday night on what its next move should be, the city council agreed to table a vote on whether to buy the boat until it hears whether Biddeford approves an interlocal agreement for patrol of the Saco River and Saco Bay.

Two weeks ago, the council had voted to approve the purchase of the boat, contingent on whether Biddeford signed the agreement.

Monday’s discussion and vote continues a more than month-long debate on whether to purchase a proposed $127,000 multi-mission response boat to replace the previous rescue boat, which is out of operation.

The purchase had been approved by a prior city council in November, but the new council voted in December to ask the contractor to delay construction, to give a month’s time to determine whether Biddeford is on board with the proposed interlocal agreement.

Last summer, the city shared Biddeford’s rescue boat, splitting fuel and maintenance costs.

Mayor Don Pilon said that the interlocal agreement does not assure that Biddeford would pay half of the proposed boat cost. That’s a separate issue, he said.

Pilon said there is a lot of recreational boat traffic coming from Biddeford, and though the two cities may continue to share fuel and maintenance costs, Biddeford needs to put more “skin in the game.”

“In my opinion, they have to take some responsibility,” he said.

Councilor Leslie Smith said when people use the Saco River for recreation, there is a certain expectation of personal safety.

“I look at this boat as another fire truck,” he said. “It’s a piece of safety equipment.”

Councilor Bette Brunswick said the city should look to see if there are any surplus boats available, as buying an expensive boat was setting a precedent.

“The way the economy is, I don’t think we can take that route,” she said.

Whether or not Saco purchases the boat, the city needs to pay the contractor $7,500 for initial design work, a “small amount,” said Pilon, noting it would be covered by the $15,000 the city received from an insurance claim for the previous boat, which was damaged in a storm.

— Staff Writer Liz Gotthelf can be contacted at 282-1535, ext. 325 or [email protected].