Lyndeborough Town Meeting voted down a warrant article to adopt community power, which would have allowed the town to negotiate a new default electric supply and renewable energy supply options for residents, Saturday at Citizens’ Hall.

Community Power Committee members Mike Kaply and Ray Humphreys addressed residents’ questions about how community power would work.

“The goal is for everyone to pay less for energy,” Kaply said.

A main concern was the opt-out feature where residents on Eversource would be automatically enrolled in community power, unless they requested not to. It was explained that individual households have the option to cancel the service at any time or switch back to community power.

“Shop around for your energy”, was Humphreys’ advice.

Resident Bob Newton felt the principal object of this plan is to force customers to buy from a company, and said it put the town in a position of being a co-op.

“You can do what they are doing today,” resident Bill Andersen said. “You are not being given options, you are taking away options”.

After a 35-minute discussion, the  article failed 29-23.

All other articles passed unanimously, including the proposed $2.62 million operating budget. A petition article asked residents to increase the tax credit for 100% totally disabled veterans from $1,400 to $4,000 per year. Darlene Anzalone explained this increase brings Lyndeborough in line with other communities. Currently, eight individuals are eligible for the tax credit. The impact is nine cents on the tax rate.

Residents also unanimously voted to increase the war veterans tax credit from $500 to $750 per year. There are currently 56 veterans plus two new applications eligible for the tax credit. This would add seven cents to the tax rate.

Other articles included funds for Fire Department capital reserve funds, a new police vehicle, a backhoe for the Department of Public Works and engineering services for repairs to Citizens’ Hall.