SOMERSET -- Brayton Point issues took center stage at the Annual Town Meeting on Monday.

Confusion over what zoning amendments to curtail activity there also dominated the meeting, and at time residents claimed they did not know what they were voting for.

Protesters against activity at the controversial plant -- led by the Save Our Bay Brayton Point -- succeeded in getting zoning amendments passed that would stymie activity on site. On a 203-40 vote, residents approved a zoning amendment that would prohibit processing of scrap metal by shredding or crushing.

A group of petitioners submitted a petition zoning article that would shut down some of the controversial activities -- from noise and scrap metal processing.

Town Moderator Lucia Casey subdivided the article, a zoning amendment, into five parts.

One resident proposed postponing 25A, the first section of the article. Planning Board member Tim Turner said that the article, a citizens petition, drew confusion. Turner said that there was concern about whether there were enough signatures, and whether the article should be divided into multiple articles.

Others said that scrap metal is already prohibited and were confused over what the proposal would achieve.

The postponement to the motion was defeated.

Allen Smith, a lead petitioner, said that scrap metal operations breed fire hazards and that could be catastrophic in densely populated Somerset.

Smith said that although “scrapping and scrap metal processing is not allowed within town’s zoning, there are always loopholes."

Smith said 25A, the first section of the article, tries to close that loophole.

After debate and a vote on 25A, the other facets of the article, all zoning amendments to curtail activity, went smoother than the first section.

Similarly, the second portion of the article, or 25B, sought to prohibit the “principal business of storage and scrap metal for recycling.”

This was amended on a Town Meeting floor so HVAC businesses can be allowed to scrap metal because it is only a secondary use.

Selectman Holly McNarama questioned whether voters and their amendments were legally sound. She and others said that the town's primary legal counsel was not present and questioned if Monday’s proceedings were pushing legal limits.

Joe Mendes said that many at Town Meeting were confused and some were duped. Mendes said that for 25B, the company would claim that scrap metal is their secondary business.

At press time on Monday, voters were still discussing 25B and had not moved on to the other sections of the zoning proposal, the last of which addresses noise.

Commercial Development Corporation Inc. two years ago announced plans for redeveloping the former power plant. For Somerset and some Swansea residents, noise, dust and pollution are some of the byproducts for a company looking to transform the 307-acre site into an international seaport.

Among the two least popular businesses for nearby protesters are Eastern Metal Recycling and Allied Salt.

Not everyone was in favor of thwarting activities at the site.

Resident Lloyd Mendes said businesses like the ones at Brayton Point help the tax base and the economy.

“The noise is the noise of industry that pays taxes,” Mendes said. “You can’t have it both ways. … This is not the time to turn away investors.”

In other business, Town Meeting voters approved a budget slightly less than what was originally proposed, but that doesn’t mean Somerset is not an “education first” town, town authorities and voters said on Monday.

Town Meeting voted on a school budget of $21.7 million, which was$257,000 less than proposed earlier in the budget season.

Town authorities say that through transportation and other COVID-19 closure savings, the district has saved money.

Longtime resident Maria DaCosa told voters not to approve the reduction, as it represents a “step back” for a community that has always expressed maximum support for education.

Ray McDonald, president of the district’s teachers association, said this decrease is fair.

“This town has a long history of commitment and excellence to education but we are facing tough times,” McDonald said. “Education is more difficult. We have to make a commitment to invest in our community and invest in our children.”

McDonald said that whenever former Somerset students return for a visit, they always tell teachers that the district prepared them for the trials of the military, work or college.

Voters also approved a slight decrease to the Somerset-Berkley Regional budget, at $8.6 million -- slightly less than the $8.8 million printed on the warrant.

Town authorities say a favorable interest rate has decreased costs for the high school building, along with other cost savings.

Town Meeting voters also approved a $25.2 million general town government budget.

Many articles, from water pollution abatement, fire department SAFER grants and Community Preservation Act field projects passed with little or no debate.

One item drew controversy without appearing on the agenda: a report that someone was live streaming the meeting without permission.

Town Moderator Lucia Casey asked that the live recording stop, as it was a state open meeting law violation.

Town resident Jessica Machado asked Casey to reconsider, as a live recording would allow more people to access the meeting.

Casey said that permission needs to be sought before a meeting before live streaming it.

“Had we been informed, we probably would have granted it,” Casey said.

Casey said that voters not present at the meeting can still watch recordings through Somerset Cable Access Television.

Like neighboring Swansea, this Town Meeting was held at the Venus de Milo within three rooms. The meeting allowed for better social distancing, according to town authorities in both communities.

There were 383 voters who attended the Somerset Town Meeting.