The Select Board voted to approve the Narragansett Historical Society's town-property-use permit for the Monapalooza event but several members said the Town Common's management and permitting authority likely falls under the Parks and Recreation commission by state law and requested the question be placed on a future agenda.

What happened at the meeting: Brian Paine, identified as the president of the Narragansett Historical Society, told the board the event follows the same plan used for the last decade and that CERT would monitor safety. A motion to approve the town-use permit passed; one member recorded an abstention, another a "no," and other members voted yes, producing an approval for the event.

Jurisdiction issue: A board member said legal authority for parks and commons falls under Chapter 45 (public parks and playgrounds) and Chapter 41 provisions, and that Parks and Recreation has jurisdiction under state law where the board previously delegated it. Members said the Town Common is likely a park and that the topic should be placed on an agenda so the board and Parks and Rec can resolve jurisdiction and permitting authority before the next season.

Next steps: The permit was approved and the event may proceed. The board asked staff to place the Town Common jurisdiction question on a future Parks and Recreation/select-board agenda and to coordinate with Parks and Rec in the interim. No further restrictions on the event were imposed.