SWAMPSCOTT — The Annual Town Meeting was held Monday night in the high school auditorium, with more than 200 residents in attendance as voters considered 11 articles ranging from the fiscal year 2027 operating budget and capital plan to citizen petitions and revolving funds.

Some of the evening’s largest discussions focused on Article 3, approving prior fiscal-year bills using free cash, Article 4, the fiscal year 2027 operating budget, and Article 9, the fiscal year 2027 capital plan appropriations.

The early portion of the meeting centered on Article 3, which included the approval of prior fiscal year bills and a discussion of using an additional approximately $300,000 in free cash to purchase recycling bins amid negotiations for a new solid waste contract. A supplemental warrant was passed around to voters before the meeting, and Town Meeting members ultimately approved the article unanimously.

Discussion then shifted to Article 4, the appropriation for the fiscal year 2027 operating budget.

Finance Committee Chair Eric Hartmann introduced a supplemental amendment tied to the town’s trash and recycling contract after negotiations produced higher-than-expected costs.

“When that was printed, we did not know where the trash negotiations were heading,” Hartmann said. “We had about a 15% placeholder for increased cost for that one budget line. Now we’re much closer to closing this deal, and we need to add another $206,980 of cost to that item.”

Hartmann said the additional cost would partially be offset by removing a separate yard waste line item because the new contract already includes yard waste pickup services, along with higher-than-expected unrestricted state aid revenue.

The Finance Committee ultimately recommended total fiscal year 2027 appropriations of roughly $86.8 million.

Hartmann also warned that the town’s reliance on excess levy capacity is not sustainable long term.

“Excess levy capacity is not a permanent solution,” Hartmann said. “It gives the town flexibility, but it does not eliminate the need to address the structural issues that we have in our budget.”

Town Meeting members later unanimously approved the operating budget article.

Voters unanimously supported Article 2 to approve bills for prior fiscal years and Article 5, which appropriates Community Preservation Act funds for administrative expenses and eligible community preservation projects.

Article 6 was approved as well, increasing the Recreation Revolving Fund spending limit by $150,000 to a total of $650,000 for FY27, as was Article 7, authorizing the acceptance and appropriation of $300,000 in Chapter 90 roadway funding from the state for street repairs and maintenance.

The meeting later turned to Article 9, the appropriation for fiscal year 2027 capital projects, which generated some of the night’s lengthiest discussion.

Finance Committee Vice Chair Erik Schneider said the proposed $11.7 million capital plan was intended to balance infrastructure needs, long-term planning, and affordability for taxpayers.

Among the projects highlighted by the Finance Committee and the Capital Plan Committee were the resurfacing of the high school track, replacement of middle school windows, and the design phase for high school paving and solar improvements.

The capital plan debate later shifted to Item 11, which proposed $600,000 in improvements at 89 Burrill St., the former Reach Arts building, to support a potential relocation of the VFW.

Town Meeting member Evan Katz argued that there had not yet been enough public discussion surrounding the proposed use of the property. “I think it’s premature to renovate a building for a use that hasn’t even been discussed with the neighborhood,” Katz said.

Town Meeting member Bonnie Levine introduced an amendment seeking to remove the project from the capital plan and reduce the overall borrowing authorization by $600,000.

Select Board Chair Katie Phelan responded that delaying the project could create timing issues tied to redevelopment plans involving the current VFW property and plans to develop that property into affordable veterans’ housing.

“If we do not start construction on the building to make it an amount for the veterans and the post, there could be a period of time by which they need to tear down the post building as it exists today,” Phelan said.

Town Meeting member Charlie Patsios spoke emotionally against the amendment, criticizing the proposal to remove the project from the capital plan.

“I’m shocked, disappointed, let down,” Patsios said. “The town received the building at no cost from the American Legion when it asked for the deed to the property.”

“We’ve never asked for anything but a little bit to give us one building,” he added. “And now some of you don’t want us to come home. Shame on you.”

Article 10, which proposed requiring inspections of private sewer laterals at the time of property sale or transfer, was ultimately indefinitely postponed.

Article 11, to prohibit the use of anticoagulant rodenticides on town property, was unanimously approved.

Town Meeting members also indefinitely postponed Article 13, a citizen’s petition seeking to prohibit the sale of foie gras on town property. Article 14, another citizen’s petition proposing restrictions on open wood fires in Swampscott, failed to pass.