Waterford — First Selectman Robert Brule has signed a 15-year contract with Eversource after a referendum Tuesday failed to overturn the Representative Town Meeting decision to approve the contract.

“Tuesday’s referendum result effectively upholds the action of the RTM regarding the fuel source for two town buildings in the Civic Triangle," Brule, a Republican, said in a statement via email. "This fuel source choice was based on the recommendations to the RTM by planning, finance and public works staff regarding the most cost-effective approach to responding to the specific near term needs and challenges of these Town facilities. Therefore, the Town has proceeded to contract for natural gas supply to these buildings."

He signed the contract Wednesday, according to information provided by Town Planner Abby Piersall and Public Works Director Gary Schneider.

Residents at Tuesday's referendum overwhelmingly rejected the contract but the turnout failed to reach the town charter-imposed minimum of 20% of registered voters. The turnout was 13.5%.

Democratic Selectman Beth Sabilia said by phone Friday, “I don’t understand what the rush was, but I’m not the first selectman.” She added, “I guess the will of the voters didn’t matter then. He didn’t have to (sign), but he did.”

The 15-year contract stipulates that, in exchange for Eversource absorbing the cost of running natural gas lines to the police department on Avery Lane and Public Safety Building on Boston Post Road, the town cannot use any other source of heat in the two buildings for the duration of the contract.

Opponents to the contract cited numerous concerns, including the length of the contract, the uncertain future of natural gas prices and the inability of the town to change the method used to heat the two town buildings prior to the end of the 15-year contract. They wanted the town to replace the oil tanks and continue to use oil in the short term, until a better solution was found.

Republican RTM member Mike Rocchetti, reached by phone Friday, said, “would you spend that much money for oil tanks for your home and get rid of them in three years for something else? I don’t think so.” He added, “it’s not that we don’t want to go green, but we aren’t going to cut off our nose to spite our face just to go green and be inefficient cost-wise.”

Rocchetti also takes issue with people who have characterized the contract as giving Eversource a monopoly. “It’s not a monopoly. We can choose from four different (suppliers),” he said. He added that until the town is able to move away from fossil fuels, this was the more environmentally friendly choice, and it would be “more economical for the residents of Waterford.”

Despite the disagreement on the contract, both sides agree that the town needs to be moving toward solutions that are better for the environment.

Brule’s statement supported, this saying, “with regard to future Town facility fuel choices, I have asked the RTM Moderator to create a dedicated Energy Sustainability Committee charged with leading community discussions on developing sustainability strategies for the Town to consider going forward. I look forward to working with and supporting these efforts and pursuing an ongoing bi-partisan dialogue on this critical issue."

Rocchetti said, “We want to go green, but we want to do it the right way.”

Nick Gauthier, RTM member and Democratic candidate for the 38th House District, said Friday, “Everyone on the RTM who spoke on this issue, no matter what side they’re on, agree that we should, and it’s a good idea, to move toward installing green energy and heating solutions in our town.”

Rocchetti summed up his perspective, saying, “I think this was a move, immediately to clean us up. Because we have moved to natural gas, it has lowered our CO2 emissions.” He added, “I’m not saying it’s green, I’m just saying it’s greener than what we have now and it’s immediate.”

Schneider said that now that the referendum is over, the town can begin to plan the project and bid out the work that needs to be done.

He said that Eversource is scheduled to run natural gas lines beginning in August, but “they have to run the pipe down the road, so that may take a while.” He added that in his opinion the town is “six months out before we start getting the pipe laid and getting the connections made.”

According to Schneider, Eversource will be running pipes from Woodlawn Avenue. The pipes will extend up Boston Post Road to the Civic Triangle.