SWAMPSCOTT – Three years after rejecting a similar proposal, Town Meeting Monday overwhelmingly passed a proposal for a $1.65 million, multi-sport artificial turf field … but added a caveat that private donors must provide $300,000 for the second phase of the project within a year.”I liken the project to buying a new house, or buying a new car – it might not be the most affordable thing and there are always going to be new projects that might be a higher priority,” Selectman Matt Strauss told Town Meeting. “But once you make the move, you feel proud about it, because it improves your quality of life. I think tonight’s the time to finally get (this project) done.”Private groups and many town leaders have long advocated for a multi-sport, artificial turf field to replace Blocksidge Field at Phillips Park. But Town Meeting in May 2012 rejected a $2.5 million proposal, of which the town was to pay $1,857,856 from the town budget, and private donors would provide the $750,000 difference.Proponents regrouped and presented a proposal for the field again at Town Meeting Monday night. This proposal presented the project in three phases: the first phase includes the majority of the work and expense; essentially constructing the field and preparing the site for adding lights and a grandstand in phases two and three.The first phase costs $1.65 million, which proponents asked the town to pay with $114,000 from the town’s sale of property, $301,000 from the capital stabilization fund, $200,222 from free cash and $850,000 from borrowing. The subsequent phases were proposed be paid for by private donors. The current proposal also uses a nontoxic infill on the field, to quell health concerns about the rubber infill that is often used on such fields.Proponents presented the article by noting that it was endorsed by the Boards of Health, selectmen, Planning Board and other town officials, and argued that the field was a safe, economical and badly needed investment to support the 1,400 children whose use of Swampscott’s fields have rendered Blocksidge, in particular, alternately a mud or dust bowl.But proponents appeared somewhat surprised and nervous when Finance Committee member Dan Eccles said the committee – while agreeing that the field was needed – was “concerned about the long-term financial impact” of the project and that it would “move from start to finish.” Eccles said the committee proposed amending the article so the project could not move forward until $300,000 in private money was received by the town to complete the second phase of the project.”I am in support of the Finance Committee (amendment) and in support of efforts to bring some financial responsibility to this,” Town Meeting member Bill DiMento said, who said he had prepared to argue against the original proposal.In response to questions, field supporter Patrick Jones told Town Meeting that he did not think that a year delay would change the cost of the project. He also demurred when asked how much money had been raised privately; saying donors wished to remain anonymous and, when pushed further, that it “wasn’t $300,000” as the group had been focused on getting the proposal passed. (The website of the All Blue Foundation which is spearheading the fundraising effort listed Monday a total of $2,200 in donations.)Health concerns also reared up, with Town Meeting member Kelly Cunningham comparing the encapsulated silica that makes up the infill of the field as “asbestos 2.0, or (something that) has the potential to be.”But others disputed Cunningham’s presentation. When the vote came, the amended proposal passed by a voice vote so overwhelming that officials didn’t call for an individual vote count.Town Meeting continues tonight at 7:15 p.m. in the high school auditorium.