With a number of big spending items and the pivotal housing bank question before them, Oak Bluffs voters opted for unity over division at their at annual town meeting Tuesday night.

Turnout was strong with 306 voters checking in at the high school Performing Arts Center. Few masks were in sight as moderator Jack Law 3rd called the meeting to order.

The meeting began with words of thanks from select board member Brian Packish to retiring town employees police Lieut. Tim Williamson, Chief Erik Blake and harbor master Todd Alexander, among others.

Voters easily approved a $35.5 million annual town budget with little discussion as Mr. Law read through the budget line by line, soliciting comments and approval.

In the largest of three major spending items, voters approved a plan to borrow up to $26 million to upgrade and expand the town wastewater facility.

The small town sewer plant is nearing capacity, and among other things the project calls for extending sewer lines where needed.

In a brief presentation, project engineers Marc Drainville and Anastasia Rudenko outlined the scope of the work, which among other things aims to protect town saltwater ponds from nitrogen pollution.

Discussion largely revolved around cost and whether the expansion will be enough in the future as the town grows.

“I’d hate to see the town go through this process — add to the wastewater treatment plant — and a year after it’s completed say, we don’t have any wastewater available for the people that want it,” said William Craffey.

But select board member Gail Barmakian said there will be ample capacity.

Mimi Davisson asked if the $26 million could be broken down into smaller phases.

“Twenty-six million is a lot,” she said.

Town administrator Deborah Potter said the project already has been broken into phases and the upgrade is a first step.

“This is the amount that is required, primarily, to replace the existing facilities,” Ms. Potter said. And she said the town fully expects to bring the cost down through grants and other funding sources.

“We are going to be vigorously searching for . . . other revenue sources to help bring this amount down,” Ms. Potter said.

Ms. Barmakian noted that approval for final funding will return to town meeting.

“This will absolutely be going to the voters — the actual funding of it,” she said. “But we need that full [authorization] amount to apply for this grant money.”

Richard Leonard called for a vote.

“The sooner we get moving with this and start the process . . . the better,” he said, drawing applause.

The article easily passed with a two-thirds vote.

Voters also agreed to appropriate up to $6.9 million to shore up the East Chop bluff, which is critically threatened by erosion. The town has secured more than $10 million in FEMA funding, but needs to show that the town is willing to pay its share in order to receive the grant.

“It is not our intention to pay the full $6.9 million,” said Ms. Potter, who said the amount is expected to be offset by other grants.

On a third capital spending request, voters amended a $600,000 question for a new boiler for the Oak Bluffs school to $150,000 for design costs only.

Oak Bluffs school principal Megan Farrel agreed with the decision, calling it fiscally responsible.

Voters agreed to allow the planning board to add an associate member, who would be appointed by the select board. The associate member could sit on special permit hearings during the recusal or absence of an elected member.

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