SACO — After much debate, the city council has voted to approve the purchase of a rescue boat.

The council voted Monday night, 4-3, with Councilors David Precourt, Bette Brunswick and Arthur Tardif voting against it, to purchase a $108,000 Marine 5 Ocean Rescue Craft.

The city’s previous rescue boat is out of operation. Since last summer, the two cities have shared Biddeford’s rescue boat and Saco chipped in on fuel and expenses.

The purchase of a $127,000 rescue boat was approved in November by the previous council, but was brought up for reconsideration by the newly seated council in December. The current price tag for the boat is lower because a hypothermia unit suggested by Biddeford was removed from the design.

At the center of the debate was an interlocal agreement between Biddeford and Saco to patrol the Saco River and Saco Bay. Saco has signed the agreement and Saco city councilors had wanted to wait until Biddeford voted on the agreement before deciding on the purchase. The Biddeford City Council has not yet voted on the agreement.

Mayor Don Pilon said he spoke with the U.S. congressional delegation to see if the city could get a surplus Coast Guard boat, but federal and state agencies have precedence over municipalities for such equipment.

Fire Chief John Duross said, should Saco acquire a Coast Guard boat, it would need work before the city could put it in the water.

“Sight unseen, as is, where it is, come get it, it’s yours, have a good day,” he said.

Biddeford’s boat will be ready to retire within the next few years, say Saco officials, but an interlocal agreement does not ensure that Biddeford would share the cost of Saco’s boat. City Administrator Richard Michaud said at a previous meeting that Biddeford’s decision to share the cost of a boat with Saco would be a Biddeford city budget decision.

“I believe one boat (for both cities) is fine,” said Saco Councilor Kevin Roche.

Roche said he thought both sides wanted to work together, and Saco approving the boat showed a good faith effort to provide leadership.

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