With little disagreement, Chilmark voters sped through a 22-article warrant at their annual town meeting in one hour flat on Monday, pausing only for a bit of debate over whether to continue the town’s participation in the Massachusetts Estuaries Project.

“It’s bad science,” said Leonard Jason Jr., who questioned the need to spend $14,792 to participate in an estuary study of the Menemsha Pond system, which includes Menemsha, Squibnocket, Quitsa and Stonewall ponds. “Nowhere do they measure nitrogen in the groundwater; they base everything on a computer model . . . if they really want to know what’s going on then they should actually be measuring the groundwater,” he said.

Frank Dunkl had another view.

“We need this information and we need it now . . . clean water is going to be more scarce in the future than oil,” said Mr. Dunkl, a water expert. “You can’t assume in the future that water is going to clean itself. That doesn’t happen . . . clean water is going to be very quickly become a crisis.”

In the end voters agreed and backed the spending article, along with another request for $54,500 to fund a similar study of Chilmark Pond. Both articles are contingent on the approval of corresponding ballot questions for a Proposition 2 1/2 override at the annual election on Wednesday.

A total of 135 voters turned out for the meeting at the Chilmark Community Center; longtime moderator Everett Poole presided.

Voters also unanimously approved a $7.6 million budget, up 8.6 per cent over last year, with no discussion.

But the first order of business of the night was to honor retiring selectman Frank Fenner, who is not running for reelection after four terms. Selectman Warren Doty presented Mr. Fenner with a certificate of commendation from the state house of representatives.

Mr. Fenner thanked the town employees, his fellow selectmen and the people who elected him.

“Most importantly to me this would never have happened if it hadn’t been for you folks,” he said pointing to the crowd of voters. “I’ll always be thankful for you giving me the opportunity to serve this town.”