A new public safety building and firehouse in Chilmark cleared another hurdle Monday night when voters approved funding for design work at a special town meeting.

The $440,000 won swift backing from 75 voters at the Chilmark Community Center.

The expenditure stills needs approval in the ballot box on Dec. 4 when voters will be asked to exempt the spending from the provisions of Proposition 2 1/2.

The money will go to hire an owner’s project manager and pay for design work on the two buildings at Beetlebung Corner: a new facility to house the Tri-town ambulance and a rebuilt fire station next to the town hall.

The special town meeting saw all 18 articles approved with little or no discussion.

Voters also approved $119,000 for work in the Menemsha harbor, including dredging and a variety of dockfront repairs, $200,000 for paving work on town roads, and $48,673 for a new police cruiser.

The only substantive discussion came on the final article, a request to allow selectmen to sell real estate acquired for nonpayment of taxes. Selectmen want to sell a town-owned property on North Ridge Road.

Voter Chris Murphy voiced concern that the measure would give the selectmen too much broad discretion in the future for disposing of other town-owned property

“My problem is with the way this article is worded, any future discussion of any future lot can be acted on this way without ever coming back to the town meeting. And I think it’s important to come back to the town meeting,” Mr. Murphy said. “I agree you’ve done your homework on this lot, but the wording of this article is forevermore. And I don’t think it should be.”

The article was amended to grant the selectmen the authority to sell and dispose only the parcel at 4 North Ridge Road.

Moderator Everett Poole adjourned the meeting just before 8 p.m.