WHATELY — A $1.3 million Town Hall renovation was approved by residents at Tuesday’s annual town meeting.

There was no pushback to the renovation at the packed meeting held in the town’s elementary school. Town officials emphasized the importance of the motion.

Voters OK’d both the use of $340,000 in Community Preservation Act (CPA) funds and $315,000 from last year’s $1.2 million American Tower Corp. cell tower sale for the project.

Finance Committee Chairman Paul Antaya described the $315,000 to the public as “like lottery money” and advocated to pass the motion.

When asked what would happen if the town did not approve the renovation, Selectboard member John Edwards addressed the crowd.

“To not be overly dramatic, there will be a special town meeting to authorize a wrecking ball,” Edwards said.

The renovation passed with a round of applause.

Another approved article asked voters’ permission to “borrow up to $400,000 for the rehabilitation of the Town Hall.”

That money will be added to at least $90,000 raised through private fundraising, with a $150,000 goal. Another $550,000 has been requested from the state.

The approved money will be used to update the building’s plumbing system, install energy-efficient insulation and windows, heating and cooling units, add a small addition in the back, redesign a handicapped accessible ramp, put in new fire and smoke detectors and add parking, among other changes.

If the project moves forward, the Whately Historical Society and Museum intends to move from the Center School to the Town Hall’s first floor, with the second floor to be used as community space. The Center School will be available to be sold or repurposed.

Voters approved a $4,890,939 town budget for the upcoming year, down $12,373 from the $4,903,312 budget approved last year.

“Whately is still a great place to live,” Antaya said while presenting the budget in detail with a PowerPoint presentation to the audience.

Also approved was a $61,000 request by the Fire Department for protective equipment.

Another $30,000 from available funds will go toward new communications systems in the Elementary School, and $15,000 was approved to establish an Affordable Housing Trust Fund.