WARREN – A majority at the annual town meeting Tuesday strongly supported tearing down the Crowe Rope building if an environmental study proves the project affordable.

Of the 102 residents voting, only 14 opposed spending up to $300,000 to do the job. Two-thirds of that money would be borrowed for up to five years, and the remainder would come from excess revenue sharing.

In addition to the Crowe Rope issue, voters approved all warrant articles, which included a $1.6 million municipal budget.

Crowe Rope is in bankruptcy and does not appear to have the money to repair the dilapidated building.

Last month, voters at a special town meeting approved spending up to $20,000 to have Landmark Construction owner Richard Lee of Warren conduct a study to determine the extent of contamination, if any, at the site of the former rope manufacturing company.

Town Manager Grant Watmough told residents that at Lee’s request, the state Department of Environmental Protection was doing an environmental study in two phases at no cost to the town. Lee likely would be paid some fee for his time, Watmough said.

Selectman William Lufkin outlined the status of the Crowe Rope building. The federal Environmental Protection Agency cleaned up aboveground contaminants at the site, he noted, and in the future, Maine DEP would pay for any cleanup of petroleum-based pollution and removal of a possible underground tank.

“The big unknown is what’s underneath the building itself,” Lufkin said, referring to other chemicals used over the years by the rope company.

Many townspeople supported removing what some consider an eyesore in the downtown area. The liability the town could face if someone is hurt on the property or sets fire to the building is a concern.

On the other hand, residents wanted to wait until the findings of the study are available to decide whether to move forward with foreclosure and to raise additional funds for demolition.

Resident Faith LaFlamme asked why the town should approve spending more money before the study is completed.

Some town officials and residents pushed for the funding now, so the town quickly could demolish the building should the findings warrant it.

Resident Michael York argued that, if necessary, a special town meeting could be called to raise money for demolition.

John Crabtree, the chairman of selectmen, assured voters that should the property wind up being a Superfund site, the town would not foreclose on the property and would not spend the approved funds.

At Monday’s polls, the following unopposed candidates were elected: incumbent Selectman William Lufkin, three-year seat, which includes serving as assessor and overseer of the poor; SAD 40 incumbent directors Nancy Starrett Watson and Bonnie Davis Micue and newcomer Daryl J. Essency, all three-year seats.