ESSEX — Residents have decided to hire a consultant to look into future land use options for Conomo Point north of Robbins Island Road, join the expanded North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District, and buy a new police cruiser.

About 150 voters gathered in the Essex Elementary School cafeteria last night to vote by voice on 10 articles. All of them were approved, eight of which were unanimous.

The only significant debate of the evening came during Article 2, which asked for $25,000 to hire a consultant to conduct a planning study to look into recreational and residential land use for the land north of Robbins Island Road for when the current land leases end in 2011.

The following actions were taken:

Article 1: Approved. Spend $3,000 to allow the town's consultant to complete the implementation of a subdivision planning process at Conomo Point, south of Robbins Island Road.

Article 2: Approved. Spend $25,000 to hire a consultant to conduct a recreational and residential planning study regarding future land use for the portion of Conomo Point north of Robbins Island Road.

Article 3: Approved. Spend $35,000 to purchase a new police cruiser.

Article 4: Approved. Spend $12,000 to help replace an existing Council on Aging, with additional funding coming from private grants.

Article 5: Approved. Spend $25,000 for aerial photography, global positioning work, and survey research to update the assessors' maps.

Article 6: Approved. To join a merged and expanded North Shore Regional Vocational Technical School District; membership includes covering the town's share of the cost for a new school.

Article 7: Approved. Add $150,000 to the town's Stabilization Fund.

Article 8: Approved. Spend $10,000 to increase the Fire Department's fire safety training salaries.

Article 9: Approved. Add $20,000 to the town clerk's salary for the remainder of the fiscal year to allow a newly appointed clerk to work alongside Town Clerk Sally Soucy until she retires in May.

Article 10: Approved. Spend $255 to make up for unpaid bills for the past fiscal year.