New shellfish regulations, appointments to the harbor management committee and strained tempers topped a three-hour Tisbury selectmen’s meeting Tuesday that had a little bit of everything. It ended with a fire scare in the town hall that drew a ladder truck and two fire engines and shut down much of Spring street for about an hour.

The weekend northeaster which caused extensive damage to the harbor and flooded Five Corners and Beach Road was one topic for discussion. Several who attended the meeting spoke about how distressed they were to see four sailboats break loose from their moorings during the storm.

Capt. Bob Douglas, who owns The Black Dog and the schooner Shendandoah, spoke at length during public comment about flooding near his bakery, what he saw as lack of support from the town during the storm, and what he called the town’s “rubber band moorings.”

“[The moorings] should be decommissioned tomorrow,” he said, adding, “This storm was well-forecast.”

Selectman Tristan Israel acknowledged the concerns, especially as yet another storm approached the Island.

“We’ve also asked that we have a discussion with the harbor management committee and the administrator and look at what went wrong and what we can do better,” Mr. Israel said.

Earlier in the evening, shellfish constable Danielle Ewart presented five amendments to shellfish regulations. Two of the proposed changes drew especially strident criticism from commercial fishermen present: one involving the temperature rule for bay scalloping (no scalloping below 29 degrees), and another that says fishermen are responsible for knowing where fishing is prohibited regardless of whether there are signs posted.

On the scalloping temperature rule, the main point of contention was over whether the town should put up a flag to indicate that it is too cold. Ms. Ewart said the information is posted on the town website, but commercial fishermen Glenn Pachico, his son, Mitchell, and Lynne Fraker were vocal critics of the approach.

“To expect us to have to check that, I think it’s unreasonable. And by the way, in Oak Bluffs, they have a flag up right now. I think the flag should be there,” Ms. Fraker said. She added that sometimes the temperature changes after she’s begun scalloping.

Ms. Ewart also proposed requiring fishermen to sign a document saying they’ve read the regulations when they get a commercial license. She also proposed that shellfishermen can have a clean slate if three years pass after an offense without incident.

Selectmen agreed there should be a flag or some sort of visual marker for temperature on the harbor, and decided to wait to approve the amendments until that is added to the regulations.

In other business on the packed agenda, Mr. Israel and Larry Gomez voted to appoint Rebekah El-Deiry and Jeffrey Canha to the harbor management committee following the resignations of James Lobdell and Michael Jampel. They will serve until June 30.

The board also granted town administrator Jay Grande permission to apply for a grant from the state for affordable housing planning. Martha’s Vineyard Commission executive director Adam Turner committed to helping the town pursue the funding.

The application is due March 29.

Philippe Jordi, executive director of the Island Housing Trust, presented a preliminary proposal about a separate affordable housing project to build three duplexes on about an acre on Greenwood avenue.

Selectmen also heard from disgruntled neighbors on Renear street, where Eversource needed permission to bury 62 feet of conduit for Jerry Barik, owner of Aurora Electric Solutions. Several neighbors attended the hearing to register concerns about Mr. Barik’s business, which they said disturbed the residential atmosphere of the neighborhood. Selectmen continued the hearing to April 24.

The meeting began on a high note with a moving show of gratitude for the town’s retiring fire department and EMS volunteers. Melinda Loberg, Polly Brown and Richard Brew were honored for their service as emergency medical volunteers. James Rogers and John Sundman were honored for their service to the fire department. A few of the honorees choked up as they thanked the town and each other. Each retiree received a standing ovation for their years of service to the community.

“I’ve used you a couple of times whether I wanted to or not!” said Selectman Gomez. The remark foreshadowed the strange turn of events that capped an already eventful evening.

As then meeting neared an end, the Katharine Cornell Theater smelled increasingly of something burning.

At about 7:20 p.m., fire chief John Schilling and Department of Public Works director Ray Tattersall went downstairs to look for a source of the smell. Mr. Rogers, who had just been honored for his service to the department, was called on to investigate as well.

As the meeting was adjourning at about 8 p.m., Chief Schilling told everyone they had to immediately evacuate the building due to smoke on the first floor. He called in the ladder company and two additional engines. About a dozen volunteer firefighters were on the scene.

They searched the building for about 20 minutes before town administrator Jay Grande pointed out that the town hall is connected to the garage of the house next door. Firemen found the garage door opener inside a car in the driveway and pressed the button. As the door went up, a single, smoking charcoal grill came into view.

Pastor Leo Christian, who owns the grill in question, emerged from his house and said he had attempted to light it earlier, but thought he had failed.

Asked if elevated carbon monoxide levels from the grill could have contributed to the contentious atmosphere of the meeting, Chief Schilling laughed.

“I think that would be being optimistic,” he said.