GORHAM – There will be no relief any time soon for the shabby working conditions at Gorham’s public safety building.

The Gorham Town Council on Tuesday failed to authorize a referendum that would seek voter approval for a renovation and expansion of the antiquated building at 270 Main St., housing the police and fire departments.

The issue “is technically dead,” Town Councilor Shonn Moulton said during a council recess on Tuesday, but he added a future council could revisit the matter.

The latest setback followed a proposal rejected by town voters in a June referendum that would have built a new public safety complex in Little Falls and was aimed at solving public safety problems that have been ongoing for 25 years.

Meanwhile, conditions for police and firefighters, town officials say, are substandard.

“As it stands today, we don’t have an adequate public safety building,” Councilor Sherrie Benner said on Tuesday.

The Gorham Public Safety Committee earlier this year reported a lack of overall space at the present headquarters, and no separate overnight facilities for men and women, who now share a unisex bathroom and shower.

The public safety building opened in 1974 as a municipal center.

On Tuesday, the council considered an agenda item that would have asked voters in a November referendum to borrow $5 million for improvements at the existing facility. But, the proposal was amended to up the price tag to $5.8 million with a public hearing in May for a June 2014 referendum.

The council then rejected the proposed referendum, 4-2, with Chairman Philip Gagnon, Vice Chairman Michael Phinney and councilors Suzanne Phillips and Moulton opposed. John Pressey was absent.

“I think it’s irresponsible to go in June,” Gagnon said during the recess.

Next year, Gorham likely would face a high school expansion referendum, and Councilor Matthew Robinson pegged the cost at between $11 million and $14 million.

“The pressing need today is the public safety building,” said Robinson.

Going forward, dealing with upgrading working conditions for public safety could fall to a new council, as three terms expire this year and the municipal election will be held in November. William Dale, town attorney, said a new council could change this week’s council’s decision.

Gagnon announced on Tuesday he’s not seeking re-election, and the terms of councilors Robinson and John Pressey also are expiring.

Phinney said on Wednesday that he expected the issue would be sent to a new Town Council as an early matter to work on.

“We’ll have to get them up to speed,” Phinney said, and try to get a proposal to voters “at some point.”

This week’s council vote came after the council had postponed action last month. A motion by Moulton to table it again until December for a new council failed.

Moulton also had proposed a $3 million plan to renovate space in the facility, but Phinney said that proposal would not address current needs.

The Public Safety Building Committee in its findings had recommended a $6.3 million complex be built at Little Falls to house police and fire departments with a fire department substation remaining at 270 Main St. The committee chose a $5.8 million renovation and expansion at the current facility as its second choice among several alternatives it studied.

But in June, voters overwhelmingly defeated the $6.3 million plan. Since then, the council has wrestled with whether voters rejected the plan because of relocating the facility away from Gorham Village or because of cost.

Resident Ken Curtis of South Street suggested a $4 million project for the fire department, with police staying in the existing facility.

“I believe $5 million is too high a price at this time,” Curtis said.

In other action, the council postponed until Oct. 1 a decision on whether to amend a contract zone contract with Gorham resident Hans Hansen for a Cumberland Farms convenience store and gas station at 74 County Road.

Under an amended contract, parking would be allowed in front and on the sides of the store with gas pumps in the front.

The project also requires Planning Board approval.

Gorham’s retiring Town Clerk Connie Loughran, left, on Tuesday administers oath of office to Jennifer Elliott as acting town clerk.