The Oak Bluffs Select board held a special meeting on August 24 to discuss with Beach Road Weekend proprietor Adam Epstein a schedule of nighttime water taxis from Oak Bluffs to transport festival attendees.

“There was no notice to the parties that probably should have been notified,” said select board member Gail Barmakian.

Local emergency officials had previously petitioned Oak Bluffs and the Steamship Authority to divert an 8:30 p.m. ferry from Oak Bluffs to Tisbury in order to transport festival attendees staying on the Cape. The idea was turned down, and Mr. Epstein announced this week that the festival had chartered the Patriot Boat out of Oak Bluffs to take passengers back to the Cape from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. on all three days of the festival.

No town officials were notified of the decision to charter Patriot Party Boats for the festival, select board members said. But Mr. Epstein’s lawyer Dan Larkosh said there was no mechanism in place that would require approval to charter a boat for the festival.

“All my client has done is chartered the Patriot Boat, which … anyone can do,” he said. “I don’t know that that comes under a regulation.”

Ms. Barmakian said that calling the scheduled trips for the festival a charter was semantic, arguing that the festival had effectively created a transportation schedule. But other members of the select board and members of the harbor advisory committee said there was likely no recourse for the town to regulate the schedule.

“These things routinely expose to us places where we have work to do,” said select board member Brian Packish.

The meeting largely focused on the ways the town and festival could work to mitigate any adverse effects of the late-night charters. Select board members asked if there was any way for the schedule to be pared down from the planned 11 trips from Oak Bluffs Harbor, but Mr. Epstein said tickets had been booked on each boat chartered for the three-night festival.

“All he’s trying to do is make provisions for the safe exodus … of Beach Road Weekend,” said Mr. Larkosh.

Mr. Epstein agreed to pay for a harbor employee to observe the coming and going of the charters and a police detail if the town is able to secure one. The festival will also provide two security guards at the harbor to keep order and help mitigate noise and safety concerns.

The select board eventually voted to approve the use of the charter boats, including Mr. Epstein’s agreement to pay for a harbor employee’s time and a police detail.

Select board member Emma Green-Beach and Mr. Packish voted in favor. Ms. Barmakian abstained from voting. Board members Ryan Ruley and Jason Balboni were not present.