Stratford officials turned down a request by 6,000 residents to be able to vote on a controversial wastewater deal.
Stratford Mayor John Harkins plans to sell Stratford's sewer authority to New Haven.
A crowd came to Stratford Town Hall to demand a public vote on the sale, but the town declined in spite of the signatures.
Stratford's town attorney says that state law doesn't allow for a public vote.
He says the deal would bring in close to $60 million in cash, improvements and debt relief.
"We wouldn't move this project forward unless we believed it was good for the taxpayer," he said.
Opponents say that they are focused on keeping the issue out of court. They say they will return to Town Hall next Monday to try to convince the council to change its mind.