The Narragansett Town Council on Jan. 6 voted to designate the new library building at 25 Peer Marketplace as "Maury Luncheon's Memorial Library" and approved a separate intergovernmental workshop with state legislators on Feb. 3, 2025.

Councilors recorded a motion approving the transfer of the library name from the old facility to the new library; the motion passed unanimously (5-0). Council discussion noted that the library institution previously carried the name and that the action updates the official name to the new building. A council speaker referenced prior council action in February 2007 that named the library in Maury Luncheon’s honor and said subsequent naming-rights rules (adopted in 2012) apply to new gifts requesting naming privileges but do not preclude the council from transferring an existing institutional name.

Multiple residents addressed the council in favor of retaining the Luncheon name. Laurie Kelly, speaking for library supporters, said the library has long operated under that name, had a public ballot at the library that favored keeping the name roughly two-to-one, and noted the institution received significant private donations during fundraising. A resident who identified an address on Daytona Avenue recalled Luncheon’s decades of service to the town. Dr. Al Alba also urged the council to retain the name, saying Luncheon “showed the utmost respect to everyone.”

Separately, the council accepted a January 6 recommendation from state Sen. Alana DeMario to hold a workshop with state representatives Carol Hagan McEntee and Teresa Tanzi and Sen. DeMario on Feb. 3 at 6 p.m. to discuss legislative priorities for the town. The council invited public attendance and urged residents to come prepared with questions and issues for state lawmakers.

The town solicitor summarized state authority for municipal naming of facilities and cited the relevant state statute (identified in the meeting as R.I. Gen. Laws § 45-2-16) as the statutory source of municipal naming authority. The council recorded the library-name motion and the workshop scheduling as approved with unanimous votes.