Updated: Canton's Annual Town Meeting Starts with Record Number, Heated Debates

The line was out the door of l and the parking lot was more than full. Was Justin Bieber signing autographs? A showing of the latest Harry Potter flick, maybe? Actually, it was the line to check into .

A "modern record" for attendance, 417 Canton residents filled the Canton High School auditorium, and let their voices be heard on several of the 44 Warrant Articles.

The first night of Annual Town Meeting kicked off just after 7:30 p.m. and lasted until just past 11:00 p.m.

The two articles, picked by lottery last night, that took up about an hour of discussion each were articles 17 and 34. Both articles failed at Town Meeting. Article 17 would have rezoned the old Plymouth Rubber site to allow for the development of residential and retail there. Currently, it is zoned as industrial. Voters did not support a similar article three years ago and took a stance again last night, voting against it. Watch the video clips to hear all of the debates on this topic.

Article 34, the local meals taxed, received a tied vote of 133-133, and was defeated since it was not a 2/3 majority vote. This article would have created a local meals tax for Canton restaurants.The tax would have added a .75 % tax on meals in Canton. If you spend $100 on a meal, you would pay an extra 75 cents on your bill if this article was passed at Town Meeting.

Town Meeting will resume on Wednesday night at 7:00 p.m. at Canton High School.