Chilmark voters will take another swing this year at a rule to allow the sale of beer and wine in restaurants. A petition asking for the change was delivered to town hall in January with 34 signatures — more than the 10 required to bring it to a vote at the annual town meeting, and more than twice as many as were collected for a similar petition in 2015.

As before, the petition asks whether the selectmen should seek approval from the state legislature for allowing up to five licenses to sell beer and wine at restaurants with more than 50 seats.

The question drew considerable debate at last year’s annual town meeting in April, with many arguing that the change would disrupt the town’s character and benefit only a few businesses.

At their meeting on Tuesday, the selectmen heard concerns about holding the vote earlier in the evening to make it easier on older residents. “There’s a lot of older people that feel strongly against this,” Wayne Iacono said. “Is there some way we could get that earlier so the people don’t have to stay up till 11 at night?”

Town executive secretary Tim Carroll suggested making such a request on the town meeting floor. And town custodian Rodney Bunker suggested starting the meeting earlier than the usual time of 7 p.m. In the end, the selectmen agreed to ask town moderator Everett Poole to bring the question to a vote at the beginning of the town meeting.

The beer and wine issue came up in 2013, when restaurant owner Bob Nixon proposed a similar change. Dozens of people turned out to a public hearing that year to voice their opposition. Chilmark is the last dry town on the Island.

In other business Tuesday, the selectmen heard reports on the newly-drafted housing production plans by JM Goldson and RKG Associates, which set long-term affordable housing goals for each town and the Island as a whole. Chilmark’s plan includes 11 strategies, including offering town land for development and increasing the Martha’s Vineyard Land Bank’s real estate transfer fee by 0.5 per cent to help fund affordable housing.

Planning board member Peter Cook welcomed the plan as creating a framework and providing information that may also benefit the town’s ongoing efforts to update its master plan. Town officials will begin meeting next week to discuss the recommendations. “This is very much in process,” Mr. Cook said.

Housing committee member Ann Wallace was more critical, noting the limited scope of the plans, and the town’s existing goal of providing housing for higher-income households than those targeted by the state. “The report is a state template and it probably won’t fit Chilmark,” she said. “We can’t shoehorn it in.”

Selectmen Bill Rossi and James Malkin agreed.

“Chilmark is very much in favor of affordable housing, and does a lot,” Mr. Rossi said. “I’m not sure we’re anxious to fit the model.”

Mr. Malkin said he looked forward to hearing more from the planning board and housing committee. But he added: “I have a problem with consultants coming in and trying to make your information fit their template. It’s important that our committees go out and see how we can move forward, taking whatever in this report is appropriate and germane — and actionable.” Selectman Warren Doty did not attend the meeting.

On another front, a group of residents has been working to make the town center safer for pedestrians. Group member Mary Beth Grady, who owns Chilmark Chocolates, highlighted areas of concern and proposed a few simple changes. She said the most dangerous area is a narrow stretch along State Road between the Post Office and Conroy and Co. Real Estate, where various features create a hazard for walkers and bikers. She suggested regrading part of the road to make it more level. She also suggested adding a crosswalk on Menemsha Crossroad, just north of the intersection, and establishing a walking route between her store on State Road and Santander Bank on South Road, with a portion running behind the real estate office and along the ball field and community center parking lot.

Bill Veno, senior planner for the Martha’s Vineyard Commission, who is assisting the group, said it plans to reach out to the town planning board, landowners and others, but that the biggest obstacle will be getting permission from the state Department of Transportation to make changes along the roads. But he added that the group was on the right track by keeping it simple. “It might slide in under the radar,” he said.

A search for a new police chief has had a strong response since mid-January, with a pool of 13 candidates already narrowed down to five.

“I was extremely impressed with all the candidates,” Mr. Rossi said.

Selectmen plan to conduct private interviews next Friday, followed by public interviews with the final three candidates on March 7.