PORT TOWNSEND — City Council members have rejected another request from Friends of the Scout House to ease the purchase of the Boy Scout House at Quincy and Cosgrove streets.

In turning down the proposal from Friends of the Scout House during a meeting Monday night, the council rejected checks totaling $5,000 to cover its expenses.

Frank Benskin, Geoff Masci and Laurie Medlicott voted no while Freida Fenn, Kees Kolff and Catharine Robinson voted in favor of the idea, resulting in a 3-3 tie.

Councilwoman Michelle Sandoval recused herself because of her position in the real estate business.

City Council resolutions must receive a majority of affirmative votes to pass, so the measure failed.

A letter from Friends of the Scout House said it didn’t expect any financial contributions from the city to purchase of the Boy Scout House and property from Vern Garrison, who bought it from the Chief Seattle Council Boys Scouts of America earlier this year.

A memo from City Manager David Timmons said city involvement would “create a window of time through Nov. 30, 2004, to allow interested parties the opportunity to come up with a funding plan for the purchase.”

The house and property are valued at about $1.1 million.

“I’m astonished my fellow council members wouldn’t accept the proposal to allow the purchase to go forward,” said Fenn.

“The idea has a lot of community merit.”