After a year of planning, a series of setbacks and vocal community opinion, Edgartown voters unanimously agreed at the annual town meeting Tuesday night to move forward on a plan to locate the new library at the old Edgartown School site.

It was the first time voters had the opportunity to affirm the library building committee’s proposal to leave the current North Water street library in favor of knocking down the old school and starting anew.

By approving the warrant article, voters agreed to try to secure state grant monies from the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners to fund half of the project. Voters’ approval of the article, which effectively endorsed the new site, was the last piece of the grant application.

“The important thing tonight to understand is this just allows the selectmen to accept the grant. As far as how much it’s going to cost the town, that has nothing to do with tonight’s vote,” selectman and chairman of the building committee Michael Donaroma said on the meeting floor. “A positive vote tonight costs taxpayers nothing this grant money is available now, which is truly amazing.”

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Moderator Jeff Norton adds polish to the podium. — Ivy Ashe

Voters questioned what would become of the historic Carnegie building that currently houses the library and the Capt. Warren house next door, but Mr. Donaroma said the selectmen will come up with solutions for the properties in due time.

“The Warren House is an embarrassment right now and we apologize,” he said, adding if Edgartown does receive grant money, the town will most likely sell the property and use the money to pay off debt collecting on the dilapidated property.

The town bought the Warren House for $3.5 million in 2005 when the first expansion project looked to expand the Carnegie building, keeping it in its original location but accompanied by a $15 million price tag. When the committee determined the current library site was too small to fit the required program site for an increasing summer population, the new building committee voted to abandon the old site and move to the Edgartown School campus.

The town has spent $200,000 on design fees, and is requesting $6.38 million from the state. A decision is expected from the state in June.

Held in the Old Whaling Church, the annual town meeting drew 263 registered voters who efficiently worked through a lengthy 68-article warrant in just under three hours. Longtime moderator Phillip J. Norton, Jr. presided over the meeting with a firm hand and as always a touch of humor. It was his 37th annual town meeting.

Voters were quick to approve a special town meeting warrant carried over from December when the town did not meet a quorum, with spending items including a $23,000 upgrade to a fire ladder truck, $40,000 for a new police cruiser, and $50,000 for repairing the bell in the Old Whaling Church.

With old items taken care of, the town’s $27.5 million budget was approved. The budget is up 3.4 per cent over last year, largely due to increased education assessments, a large police and fire department budget and funding for a town dredging project in Sengekontacket Pond. Board of assessor member Alan Gowell said the tax rate will only increase by four or five cents on top of this year’s $3.40 per thousand with the budget approval.

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Pews at Old Whaling Church full for town meeting. — Ivy Ashe

Selectman and chairman of the board Margaret Serpa said most departments were able to level-fund their budgets, and felt it was a responsible budget.

Wastewater department manager Joe Alosso was next to give his department’s report. Due to a state investigation into possible fraud from material deficiencies in hauling records, Mr. Alosso issued an apology.

“I’ve been fortunate enough to speak of wonderful things we accomplished at the wastewater facility I must also take responsibility with the problems. You deserve nothing less,” he said in a prepared statement. “These deficiencies predate all commissioners. They are deficiencies of previous audits and were never pointed out to us. Still it’s no excuse, we should have made necessary changes.”

“I want to apologize for not recognizing the issue sooner and correcting it, I’m sorry.”

Later in the evening voters unanimously approved a total of $75,000 towards plant maintenance and system upgrades.

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Town clerk Wanda Williams. — Ivy Ashe

Other large spending articles included $98,000 for a new backhoe for the highway superintendent, $58,000 for two additional police cruisers and $25,000 to help restore a trompe l’oeil architectural mural that used to be in the back of the Old Whaling Church. The Martha’s Vineyard Preservation Trust, which distributed pictures at the meeting of how the building looked with the old mural, will fund the remainder of the project, estimated at $100,000.

As voters approved a series of zoning bylaws, Edgartown real estate owner Benjamin Hall, Jr. suggested minor amendments to nearly every one. Mr. Hall persuaded voters to forgive first time noise bylaw violators after three years, but fine those who continue to violate the bylaw after their third offense.

A new construction bylaw now restricts noise from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on weekdays and Saturdays, and prohibits work on Sundays.

Peter Look successfully sought an amendment to a separate noise bylaw that allows police to fine people between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. Mr. Look requested the hours be extended on July 4 and New Year’s Eve to midnight.

“I’ve been waiting since 1973 to not to get arrested on one of those two nights after 10 p.m. It’s time to amend our culture just a little bit and to allow a little bit of revelry on the day we signed the Declaration of Independence and celebrate the New Year,” Mr. Look said.

One of the last articles to garner discussion was installing five new lampposts in Katama. Highway superintendent Stuart Fuller requested $1,500 for posts on Herring Creek road between Katama and Crocker drives. There are currently 295 lampposts in town, each of whch costs the town $110 in electricity bills annually. It was the only article not recommended by the financial committee.

“There are no lights on Katama road, why are we putting them there now?” Laurence Mercier asked.

“There are six on Herring Creek now, with the addition of the bike path and more foot traffic it’s a matter of public safety,” Mr. Fuller said.

After a counted vote, the article passed 109 to 63.