Town meeting season came to a close Tuesday night as Aquinnah voters worked diligently to approve nearly all articles at their annual town meeting, but not before passing on two police department requests.

Voters unanimously approved a $3.35 million operating budget, reduced slightly from the originally proposed $3.4 million after trimmings to police wages and town employee insurance line items.

A new bylaw that would have required taxi drivers, ice cream truck operators, alcohol license managers and antique vendors to go through a criminal background check prompted a lengthy debate, but was eventually tabled indefinitely. The bylaw would have allowed fingerprinting to be cross referenced in a national database. The selectman and Police Chief Randhi Belain argued the bylaw was most pertinent to taxi drivers to ensure public safety, but voters said it would create a slippery slope for privacy violations.

“I think this article sets a dangerous precedent,” Margie Spitz said.

The “bylaw isn't ready for primetime,” said Michael Stutz, who made the motion to table the article.

Voters shifted in their seats when one person asked if the selectmen would be able to run a criminal background check for managers of casino licenses, a reference to the Wampanoag tribe's recently announced plan to bring a casino to the town. The selectmen said it would be out of their purview to conduct background checks because the tribe, not the selectmen, would issue any casino licenses. It was the only point in the evening when the topic of casino gambling in Aquinnah was raised.

Voters also rejected a request for $39,000 for a new police cruiser. Chief Belain said the money would go toward a four-wheel drive vehicle, but voters questioned the necessity of the purchase. The measure was defeated with 25 in favor, 17 opposed; a two-thirds vote was required.

Approved spending articles included $15,000 for a tax title associate, $50,000 for the Dukes County Other Post-Employment Benefit trust and $25,000 for four new Scott Air Packs and four air cylinders for the fire department. The last article is contingent on approval of a Proposition 2 and a half ballot question at the town election on Wednesday. Polls will be open from noon to 7 p.m.

Voters also approved a town zoning bylaw that allows a simplified review and permitting process for small structures or minor changes to existing projects.

And all six Island towns now stand united behind a nationwide movement for a constitutional amendment against the Citizens United campaign finance ruling. Aquinnah voters unanimously approved the measure. Just before the vote was taken Jeffrey Madison thanked fellow voter Richard Skidmore, who helped petition the article for the annual town meeting warrant.

“Good for you, thank you very much,” he said to loud applause. “[This ruling] was absolutely horrid . . . this presidential election is going to be effected like no other in the history of this country because of this decision. This is one of most important things that is on this meeting agenda tonight.”

A total of 55 voters attended the meeting.