Following a long search, the Chilmark selectmen on Tuesday signed a purchase-and-sale agreement for a property behind town hall where the town hopes to build a new fire station.

The 1.4-acre parcel was owned by longtime Chilmark postmaster Bette Carroll, who died this year. Her sons Emmett and Sam Carroll, who acquired the property in trust, joined a number of town officials at the selectmen’s meeting to celebrate the agreement. If voters approve at a special town meeting next month, the town will pay $975,000 for the property.

“We have said many times that we are interested in any land that becomes available in the Beetlebung Corner area,” selectman Warren Doty said, standing in front of two pictures of Mrs. Carroll and a map of the parcel. He noted an unsuccessful attempt this year to buy the former Santander Bank property across from the Chilmark Community Center.

“Bette Carroll would be very pleased to see the town get this land,” he added. Emmett Carroll was the town fire chief in the 1970s and Sam Carroll was a firefighter and EMT in the 1980s. Mrs. Carroll’s late husband, Marshall, also served as a fire chief for a year in the 1960s.

The town public safety building site committee, which formed last year to pick up on long-term efforts to find a site for a new fire station, had originally envisioned a joint facility that could house the fire department and Tri-Town Ambulance Service, and possibly the police department.

Mr. Doty said the new plan was to build a fire station behind the town hall, and to convert the existing station on the Menemsha Crossroad into an ambulance facility. The selectmen plan to call a special town meeting Jan. 11 to seek approval for the purchase.

Selectman Bill Rossi thanked Andy Goldman for his service as chairman of the building site committee, and earlier efforts. Mr. Goldman had served on a building site committee more than 10 years ago that he said disbanded in light of more pressing concerns in town.

“It’s not quite what we envisioned,” Mr. Rossi said of the purchase. “But the opportunity came up . . . and we hope it’s a positive result at town meeting.”

In other business, the selectmen voted unanimously to appoint Ben Retmier as chief of the Tri-Town Ambulance Service. Mr. Retmier was deputy chief of the service for four years and served as interim chief following the resignation of Paul (Zeke) Wilkins in June.

Aquinnah selectman Jim Newman, who served on a screening committee along with other officials from the three member towns, said that during the process he was especially impressed by Mr. Retmier’s proposal for creating a CPR training program for Island residents.

“I think we’re in great shape,” Mr. Newman said.

Selectman Jonathan Mayhew noted that several others in the community, including the fire and police chiefs in West Tisbury, had endorsed the appointment.

In response to Mr. Doty, who inquired about the needs of the proposed ambulance facility, Mr. Retmier said it should accommodate two ambulances, along with spaces for training, meetings and bunk rooms.

Mr. Retmier said his short-term goals for the service were to hire a new deputy chief, increase staff and prepare a budget for the new year.

“I’ve kind of wanted to be the leader, where I’m in for awhile,” he told the Gazette, adding that he was excited to take on the new role.