In what has become a summer refrain in Oak Bluffs, residents of the Martha’s Vineyard Camp Meeting Association appeared before selectmen on Tuesday to complain about loud noise and music coming from two popular downtown establishments on Circuit avenue: Deon’s Restaurant and the Island House.

Both businesses were the subject of noise complaint hearings, as required by a town policy on entertainment licenses. The public hearings were triggered by two separate complaints about loud music; after an officer visited the two locations the matter was referred to selectmen.

Selectmen agreed to let both businesses off with a warning, but not before some emotional testimony and a strong word of warning from one selectman.

Police chief Erik Blake said the Island House has been the subject of 38 complaints over the last two and a half years, most having to do with loud noise or music. Selectman Ron DiOrio vowed to permanently revoke the entertainment license if there is one more complaint in the future.

“I want to direct this to the neighbors . . . and let you know that if there is another complaint about noise from this establishment, I will make a motion to suspend their entertainment license, permanently,” Mr. DiOrio said. “I mean 38 is ridiculous . . . at what point do we have our heads pounded in enough that we understand?”

Board of health member Trisha Bergeron, who was in the audience, bristled at the remark.

“That is a very powerful statement. You have people trying to work together and I think that sort of thing will discourage everyone,” she said. “I think they are trying to work together . . . I think what you are saying could be misconstrued.”

Others on the board were more diplomatic.

“Relax everyone. Thirty-eight is a stunning number. But those may not be as large as the one that got you before us today,” selectman Gregory Coogan said. “With all due respect to my colleague at the end of the table, all that comes before us are serious noise complaints, not just those coming from someone who walks by and doesn’t like the entertainment,” he said, adding:

“Do your job. Close your windows, shut your doors, and this won’t happen again.”

Earlier the selectmen heard from Camp Ground resident George Gamble, who filed the complaint that triggered the public hearing. Mr. Gamble said on several occasions this year loud music from Island House has disturbed his sleep.

“When the bass is loud my pillow jumps around on the bed . . . it’s a miserable way to spend the night,” he said.

But Mr. Gamble also said Island House manager Sonny Chhibber has worked with neighbors, giving out his cell phone number and frequently checking in with residents of the Camp Ground.

“We’re not interested in penalizing them in any way. I understand it’s difficult to make a living. Right now I think we have a good working relationship. But I tell them if the music is loud again, we will tell them to turn it down, and if it doesn’t get better, we will call the police. But I give [Mr. Chhibber] credit, he has gone out of his way to work with us,” Mr. Gamble said.

Mr. Chhibber said the Island House has done everything asked of them to address noise problems. They have installed air conditioners and sound proofing materials, poured a new foundation and tried to keep windows and doors closed at all times. Earlier this month they bought a speaker stand to reduce the vibration of the music in the floor, he said.

Mr. Chhibber said they have tried to do their best in an impossible situation. Some of the cottages in the Camp Ground are only a few feet from the back of the nightclub, he said.

“Their bedrooms are right there. It’s not like the Island House was built after the houses over there. The entertainment license has been with the Island House for God knows how long. It was grandfathered to us. These 38 complaints don’t make any sense to us; we’ve only been called [before selectmen] on two occasions,” he said.

“We do not look forward to seeing you again. I don’t want to have to restrain my colleague Mr. DiOrio,” Mr. Coogan said.

In the hearing for Deon’s Restaurant, emotions also ran high. Robyn Nash, an attorney for Deon’s, disputed the facts of the complaint from Brian Kirkpatrick.

She said a police officer came by the restaurant the night of the complaint and asked them to turn down the music, which they did. When the officer returned later the front door had been opened because of the heat, but the music was not too loud. Ms. Nash cited the recent increase in the local option meals tax, and emphasized the importance of having live entertainment. “We’re losing our shirts there. We’re working extra hard to serve meals just so we can pay the town, and we can’t make it . . . we have worked very hard to adhere to the guidelines put before us,” she said.

Mr. Kirkpatrick said he only wanted peace for him and his neighbors.

“The night of the incident the back door was wide open and the music was blasting,” he said.