Chilmark voters will decide next month whether or not to endorse a state-funded harbor improvement plan in Menemsha.

At their regular meeting Tuesday, the Chilmark selectmen approved a two-article warrant for a special town meeting on August 6. The first article will ask for approval of a new dock system in Menemsha; the second is for $75,000 to go toward year-round housing assistance.

The harbor improvement plan will be funded by a $629,000 grant from the Massachusetts Seaport Advisory Council. The money is intended for repairs following the July 2010 Menemsha boathouse fire. No new money will be appropriated at the special town meeting.

Two weeks ago the selectmen accepted the harbor advisory committee plan to rebuild a 230-foot transient dock at the end of the harbor with a concrete floating dock and a new wooden fuel dock. Repairs are also planned for the charter docks and a new 60-foot temporary tie-up dock is in the plan. A new touch-and-go dock for small watercraft is also being considered. Drawings will be available at the town hall for review in the coming weeks.

This week the selectman Bill Rossi said the board should endorse the harbor advisory committee plan but add a provision for wood planking for the new transient dock, responding to “aesthetic concerns that a lot of people have voiced over the last few weeks.”

He also said: “I know there’s a pretty emotional vocal group that’s voiced a passionate plea to keep it a fixed wooden dock but I think a compromise is in order.”

Harbormaster Dennis Jason endorsed the concrete plan.

“The things I’m concerned with are safety, durability and functionality of the dock, aesthetics is running close third, but it’s probably fourth,” Mr. Jason said. “Putting mahogany on top of the dock may be a nominal thing, but one of the virtues of a concrete dock is it’s not slippery.”

There is also fire to consider, he added.

“Probably one of the other things we should remember is it won’t burn, and that’s a big plus,” the harbormaster said.

Additional wood planking would cost $5,000 to $6,000, and Mr. Rossi said it was worth it.

“It’s short money to address the concerns of a lot of folks who are looking for the traditional wood dock look and the practical concerns will be met,” he said.

In other business, the selectmen appointed Robert Lionette to the Up-Island Regional School District committee. Mr. Lionette will serve out the remaining term of Perry Ambulos, who resigned this spring.

The board voted unanimously to choose Mr. Lionette over Melissa Moore. Both candidates were interviewed two weeks ago.

“Both candidates are very enthusiastic and would be good to serve,” selectman Warren Doty said. “I feel [Robert] has put in a lot of volunteer service already and has shown his dedication to the school district through that volunteer effort. Melissa is also a very attractive candidate but she just doesn’t have the history of involvement that Robert already has.”

Selectmen also approved a fundraiser at Beetlebung Farm on August 5 for the cancer research group TargetCancer.