Waterford — Voters failed to overturn the Representative Town Meeting decision to enter into a 15-year contract with Eversource to supply natural gas to two town buildings.

Voters, who were able to vote through absentee ballot or in person, did not meet the 20% turnout threshold — which is 2,818 based on the certification of 14,088 registered voters completed on May 26 — required by the town charter. To overturn the decision, not only did voters have to meet that threshold but at least 20% would have had to vote against the RTM decision.

Nicholas Gauthier, Democratic 1st District RTM member and candidate for the 38th District seat in the state House of Representatives, said late Tuesday night the unofficial vote tally was 1,663 against the contract and 241 for it.

This means that Republican First Selectman Rob Brule can sign the contract with Eversource that will require the town to heat the police department and Public Safety Building exclusively with natural gas until 2037.

The referendum was prompted by the RTM's April 4 vote to approve the contract to run lines and deliver natural gas to the two buildings. The agreement was passed 13-10 on party lines, with Republicans voting to approve the contract.

The last referendum regarding renovation of the town's five elementary schools held Aug. 13, 2002, also failed to reach the 20% threshold required to overturn the decision.

After casting her ballot at Town Hall on Tuesday, resident Deb Walters said, "I voted no simply because I don't think it (the contract) was well thought out, and I think it was just too hastily decided, and that for the amount of money they claim they're going to save, a lot more thought needs to go into it."

Kevin Girard, a Republican RTM member for the 2nd District, said by phone Tuesday after polls closed, "I'm happy that voters had the chance to make their voice heard on this issue although I don't like long contracts; to me, this was the better choice for the environment on this project."

He continued, "I'm also hoping we can parlay the energy on this topic to work with town planning and other departments to continue the conversation on sustainability for Waterford."

Colette Driscoll Long came with her husband, Roger, and son Wyatt to vote. All three voted no. "A 15-year contract you can't get out of, natural gas prices are rising," she said, "we shouldn't be investing in fossil fuels."

Dan Able agreed that the contract was too long. After voting at the Town Hall, he said, "Eversource shouldn't dictate to us what we can use for energy and how long we can use it for." He said he grew up using natural gas, and wishes it was more available in town, but he doesn't "want Eversource to tell us that, if in five years it's cheaper to do electric, or solar, or oil, or something else, we can't do it because we're locked in. That's not right."

The current oil tanks at the two buildings will reach the end of their life expectancy later this year at the police department and next year at the Public Safety Building. This left the town with the option of replacing the tanks with new ones, or switching to an alternate fuel source. Based on spring prices for both oil and natural gas, the town estimated a projected savings of $26,670 over 15 years by switching to natural gas, as well as first-year savings of $167,978 due to not paying to replace the oil tanks.

On April 18, Gauthier and other volunteers presented a signed petition opposing the contract to Town Clerk David Campo, who certified 758 signatures, triggering the referendum.

Gauthier, present for the vote count conducted at the Town Hall on Tuesday, said, "As reflected in today's referendum vote result and through significant public discourse, what has been made clear is that there is near universal agreement that our town needs to continue expanding on our green energy solutions."

He continued, "at this point, the first selectman is authorized to sign (the contract with Eversource); he is not required to sign. Therefore, it is his decision to make," adding, "I hope he will consider the will of the voters and the price of natural gas to date."