Fall Town Meeting is scheduled for Oct. 24 when voters will decide on 26 agenda items including the approval of Wastewater Pollution Control Facility upgrades and the creation of a new committee to study zoning.

On Tuesday, Selectmen officially closed the agenda after discussing the merits of several items and voting to not allow two items that had been submitted.

One item dropped was a request to transfer funds to study installing primary clarifiers at the Wastewater Pollution Control Facility, which would help control the odor.

At a previous meeting, Sewer Commissioners estimated it would cost between $800,000 and $1 million to conduct the study. Installing the clarifiers would possibly cost tens of millions of dollars.

While not disagreeing with the project, Selectmen said more research is needed on the issue.

“This is a necessity,” said Selectman Patrick Tropeano. “But it needs more work. There’s no knowledge on what the plan is and we need to ask for more clarification.”

Selectmen OK’d transferring funds from the facility’s retained earnings account to improve open air sewage basins on the site. Funds for inspecting an aging sewer main that runs from a pump station at the Narrows to the plant were also approved. Sewer Commissioners have said that approximately $250,000 would be needed for the inspection and $170,000 for the basins.

The second item not allowed on the agenda was a $453,000 request for Community Preservation Funds. The Wareham Housing Authority sought the money to build four new affordable housing units at Agawam Village. This is the second time Selectmen rejected the authority's request. The board voted to keep the same article off the Spring Town Meeting held earlier this year.

Selectman Peter Teitelbaum said he appreciated that current members of the Wareham Housing Authority revamped what was a failing institution. However, he said there will be future opportunities for the authority to make renovations.

Another agenda item sparked debate among Selectmen before it was ultimately approved.

Selectman Alan Slavin said Tuesday’s meeting was the first time he learned of a proposal to establish a committee tasked with studying how current zoning bylaws impact the town.

“This was put together without a discussion by the Board of Selectmen and I believe it violates certain policies,” said Slavin.

He added that the committee would be looking at issues under the purview of existing boards and departments.

“It would bypass the Zoning Board of Appeals and others. You’re going down a slippery slope when you say you don’t need these committees,” he said.

Teitelbaum disagreed, saying it would afford residents a say in the future development of Wareham.

“There’s a general feeling, a groundswell, from people who feel there’s too much big box development...and there are concerns we’re going to turn into Dartmouth at the rate we’re going,” said Teitelbaum.

He noted that the committee would let residents help shape the appearance of the town. If adopted, the item would create a nine person committee appointed by the town moderator to explore zoning. The committee will then report their findings at April Town Meeting.

In other news:

Signs on town property: Selectmen approved the placement of signs on town property in Onset by the Onset Foursquare Church, but denied a similar request from Eastern Bank.

Bylaws allow for nonprofits to put signs on town property. The request from Eastern Bank was promotional in nature and against town rules.

“We’d open up Pandora’s Box by approving that,” said Tropeano.

Garden Club helps out: A picnic area near the Tremont Nail Factory site was spruced up with the help of the Wareham Garden Club.

During his report, Town Administrator Derek Sullivan had high praise for club members who planted flowers at the site per Sullivan’s request.

“It really shows what the area can be,” said Sullivan. “That’s potentially the best spot in town.”