Construction of a bus turnaround in Menemsha is on hold after Chilmark selectmen agreed this week to allow time for critics to submit recommendations for alternatives.

A plan to build a turnaround north of the comfort station has been a year in the making and was approved by voters at a special town meeting last month. Town leaders hope it will improve public safety and ease summer traffic congestion.

But a group of opponents is concerned that the turnaround will mar the aesthetics of the small fishing village and want the town to pursue alternatives.

At the meeting Tuesday, board chairman James Malkin told a standing-room-only crowd that after reviewing numerous letters from concerned residents, he was prepared to consider modifications to the plan if they can be submitted by the next selectmen’s meeting on Jan. 8.

“In the meantime we will not begin construction of the bus turnaround,” Mr. Malkin said.

Selectman Bill Rossi agreed to the delay but noted that the plans have already been well vetted and approved by voters.

“I think it’s a little bit of a slippery slope to go down,” Mr. Rossi said. “I feel that the process was well done, very thorough, voted at town meeting . . . I’m kind of uncomfortable going against that.”

Menemsha Texaco co-owner Katie Carroll, one of the leading critics of the turnaround, voiced frustration that two weeks is not enough time to come up with alternatives.

“That’s a very short time frame, especially during this time of year where a lot of people are home for the holidays,” she said, proposing that the matter be put off for longer. “Why does it have to be such a short window?”

But Mr. Malkin said a long delay could prevent the turnaround from being ready in time for summer.

“I don’t want to extend this out indefinitely,” he said.

Selectman Warren Doty agreed. “Menemsha is not what it was 20 years ago,” he said. “This is part of a struggle to pull this off and deal with change happening around us.”

In other business, Mr. Malkin proposed that the town ask the Martha’s Vineyard Commission to review plans by the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah) to build a bingo hall on tribal land in neighboring Aquinnah. He said the project could lead bring heavy traffic onto town roads and put a burden on public safety officers.

“I’m concerned as a citizen of Chilmark at what the potential casino could do to public safety when people go to or from a potential casino in Aquinnah at night,” Mr. Malkin said.

Mr. Rossi agreed, but suggested the board wait until the tribe seeks a development permit.

“I would love to have the MVC look at it,” he said. “It’s something we need to be thinking about down the road.”

At the request of the planning board, selectmen agreed to put an article on the annual town meeting warrant this spring that would designate a 1.5-acre parcel at the landfill for large-scale solar panel installations of up to 250 kilowatts or higher.

“We’re hoping for benefits over the years,” said planning board chairman Rich Osnoss.

Selectmen agreed to schedule an executive session in the coming weeks to discuss a request from the Chilmark police to negotiate a new labor union contract. The last contract expired in 2014.

The meeting also included a surprise performance by a troupe of carolers from the Chilmark School who gave a rousing rendition of Jingle Bell Rock and Jingle Bells. The selectmen and many in the audience joined in.