Edgartown voters said no to pulling out of the Martha’s Vineyard Commission at a special town meeting Tuesday night, indefinitely postponing an article backed by the three town selectmen asking to take the first steps to withdraw from the commission.

The article was defeated in a voice vote following a long and heated debate at the Old Whaling Church that was packed with voters. “There are some frustrations . . . we brought it here because we felt this was the place where it should be talked about,” said selectman Michael Donaroma, who moved for the postponement.

A complete story about the Edgartown special town meeting will appear in the Friday Gazette.