Saco City Council approves purchase of upgraded radios for fire department

The Saco City Council convened on July 14, 2025, to address several key agenda items, beginning with the approval of previous meeting minutes. The council unanimously approved the minutes from June 2, 2025, with a roll call vote resulting in a 7-0 decision.

Following this, the council moved to consent items, specifically discussing an annual report filing extension. Councilor Gunn proposed the motion, which was seconded by Councilor Berman. Councilor Johnston raised a point regarding the timing of the annual audit results, indicating that the extension was necessary to accommodate the audit process. The council approved this item with another unanimous vote of 7-0.

The meeting then progressed to action items, starting with a first reading concerning the appropriation for purchasing new radios from the ambulance fund. Councilor Edwards presented the request, highlighting the need for the fire department to upgrade its radio communication system from a very high frequency (VHF) to an 800 megahertz system. This upgrade is essential for ensuring interoperability with neighboring emergency services that have already transitioned to the 800 megahertz system. Councilor Edwards proposed an appropriation of $89,132.69 to fund this purchase, which would be drawn from the ambulance special revenue fund. The motion to approve the first reading and schedule a final reading for August 4, 2025, was seconded by Councilor Johnston.

The meeting concluded with a clear progression through the agenda, with all items receiving unanimous support from the council members present. The next steps include the final reading of the radio purchase appropriation in August, ensuring that the fire department can enhance its communication capabilities in alignment with regional standards.