Edgartown residents approved a new $21.5 million fire station, North Wharf repairs and a “nip” alcohol bottle ban at town meeting Tuesday night.

Meeting in the newly-restored halls of the Old Whaling Church, voters drilled through a 79-article annual town meeting warrant, with only one article not passing.

The proposed fire station received some scrutiny, though, with one attendee asking why a project of that size could not include an affordable housing component.

Fire chief Alex Schaeffer said the station building committee had looked into the possibility, but ultimately decided that housing beyond the firefighters’ barracks would not be feasible.

The project went to a vote, carrying 189 to 7.

One attendee, Bari Boyer, supported the project but felt that the money could be better spent elsewhere.

“Twenty-one million could buy so much housing,” she said after the meeting adjourned.

Town meeting passed all but one article. — Mark Alan Lovewell

The project will also have to be approved by the voters at the election this week.

The North Wharf restoration project passed unanimously without discussion, as did a request for Edgartown to pitch in on a $2 million feasibility study to consider rebuilding or repairing the Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School.

Passions ran highest when the proposed ban on miniature alcoholic beverage containers under 100 milliliters was called. Earlier that night, Oak Bluffs successfully passed a nearly identical ban without discussion.

Resident Vincent Mandarano spoke against the ban and asked that the town indefinitely postpone the article and look for alternatives.

“Banning would harm the local business community and not solve the litter problem on-Island,” he said, adding that a ban could potentially create a “black market” for nips and exacerbate drinking problems.

The motion did not pass.

Julia Tarka, owner of Rosewater Wine & Spirits, made a different motion that would have added the word “plastic” to the article language, opening the doors for single-serving alcoholic beverages sold in cans or glass containers. That also did not pass.

“I think what we know from experience is that these are designed for public consumption,” resident Jeff Agnoli said in favor of the ban. “They get consumed and they get inappropriately discarded…these are not essential items.”

Mr. Agnoli’s statement received a round of applause. The nip ban passed with a majority vote and will go into effect in 2024.

One of the most controversial items was an article requesting $980,000 to build a new community playground and “outdoor learning campus” at the Edgartown school.

Several attendees balked at the price tag for what seemed like a relatively small project. School committee chair Kimberly Kirk said that the committee had sent out several bids, and this was the competitive cost to build a playground compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

The article ended up passing unanimously with applause after kindergarten teacher Debbie Grant spoke in support of the project.

 “I’m speaking for the kids,” she said. “They really need the exercise. They need the air…they need to be able to move their bodies. It’s essential for their education.”

The night’s agenda kicked off with a quick special town meeting; every article passing unanimously without discussion save for an updated floodplain bylaw. The bylaws, dictated by the state, prompted some concern from residents fearing greater restrictions on what they can build in floodable areas. The article went to a vote, passing 178 to 6.

Moderator Steve Ewing calls down to the Wharf Pub in search of more voters. — Brooke Kushwaha

With all special town warrant articles approved, Edgartown is now free to begin hiring and purchasing equipment for the management of Norton Point beach this summer. Previously, Norton Point had been managed by The Trustees of Reservations, but the town officially took over management of the county-owned property this spring.

The night was largely absent of any major controversies, but did get off to a slow start as the town struggled to make its 210-person quorum. Town moderator Steve Ewing made a last-ditch phone call to The Wharf Pub for voters, finally calling the meeting to order about 30 minutes late.

Mr. Ewing then led the room in a pledge of allegiance and a moment of silence in memory of Philip “Jeff” Norton, Jr., the longtime town moderator who had died last November. Mr. Ewing thanked Mr. Norton and his over 40 years of service to the town.

“Take a moment to thank Jeffrey who guided this town so well for so long,” he said.