📰BIDDEFORD | Councilors Praise Police Chief for Partnering with City of Saco | Council Approves Contract “We miss too many opportunities to work with our neighbors from Saco… I offer praise to you

📰BIDDEFORD | Councilors Praise Police Chief for Partnering with City of Saco | Council Approves Contract

“We miss too many opportunities to work with our neighbors from Saco… I offer praise to you and your team for working with them.” Jacob Pierson, Ward 6 Councilor

January 6, 2026, At tonight's city council meeting, Biddeford Police Chief JoAnne Fisk asked City Councilors to approve a contract between the City of Saco and City of Biddeford pertaining to the purchase of new software used for emergency services.

Chief JoAnne Fisk, Biddeford Police Department

The current software used by Biddeford’s emergency services was purchased approximately 30 years ago and the contract was executed by then Chief Roger Beaupre, who now currently serves as City Council President.

The aforementioned contract would allow the two municipalities (Biddeford &Saco) to split the cost, and share the use, of the new software, saving money for taxpayers of both Cities.

After hearing from Chief Fisk, the City Council voted unanimously in favor to approve the contract.

Councilor Brad Cote, Ward 7, thanked Chief Fisk for her willingness to work with the City of Saco and added, “We should be doing more with our neighbors to save on costs, not less.”

Ward 6 Councilor Jake Pierson also applauded Chief Fisk and her efforts stating, “We miss too many opportunities to work with our neighbors from Saco… I offer praise to you and your team for working with them.”

Councilors discuss an agenda item during Jan. 6, 2026 meeting.

Although one step closer to gaining approval, this does not complete the approval process; As this agreement is between two municipalities, the contract can not be finalized and or officially entered into until the City of Saco also votes to approve. If the City of Saco does not vote to approve the contract, then the City of Biddeford is not obligated to anything and the contract is null and void.

The software being considered for purchase is called Motorola Flex and is a subscription based technology that aids emergency departments in almost all daily logistics including but not limited to both dispatch and record management. Additional features of the software described by Chief Fisk include the ability for emergency departments to access records in third party databases such as the Maine Bureau of Motor Vehicles, Evidence Management, GPS services, and more.

If approved by both parties, the “start up funds” used to upgrade the current system in preparation for the new software (which would not occur until 2027), have already been voted on, approved, and allocated from previous budgets through Capital Improvement Project funds (CIP); According to Chief Fisk and City Staff, “they have been looking ahead and planning for this transition for roughly the past two years”.

This story will be updated with the result of the contract vote from the City of Saco.