After Covid-19 and police staffing challenges suspended the Edgartown event, the Dock Dances at Memorial Wharf will return for the first time since 2019.

Last year, the Edgartown police department argued that staffing shortages would not allow officers to adequately monitor the weekly concerts as scheduled, prompting the select board to extend the pandemic pause. On Monday, Edgartown police chief Bruce McNamee presented a staffing plan to the select board that would enable the events to return this year. The dances are open to all ages and will be held on Tuesdays, 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., from July 11 to August 8.

The select board approved the plan unanimously.

“I’m glad to hear that,” select board member Mike Donaroma said. “I know it’s extra work and hard to control but it’s something that’s been going on for years and years…I hope it works.”

John Stanwood, a vocalist and guitarist for the Dock Dance Band, applauded the decision and thanked Chief McNamee for working with the event organizers on a solution.

“We were worried we might not be able to do this again,” he said. “This has existed in some form or another since the 1960s, so it feels great to be able to continue that tradition.”

Although the weekly dances end August 8, the Dock Dance Band will return to the wharf September 12 for one more show before the season’s end.

“We want to have as much fun as we can,” Mr. Stanwood said. “It’s been very missed to have a safe space for people of all ages to come together and cut loose.”

In other business, the Edgartown parks department is working towards a “soft opening” of Norton Point beach this summer after testing out the new oversand vehicle (OSV) entrance last week. Parks administrator Jessica McGroarty noted that capacity will be limited due to nesting shorebirds in the area, but the beach should hopefully be ready in time for the Fourth of July rush.

“People will certainly appreciate that,” select board member Margaret Serpa said.

The select board also voted to apply for a federal grant program that would pair the town with leading energy experts for renewable energy and resilience programs. If accepted, energy committee chair Alan Strahler said the experts will provide guidance on upcoming projects including rooftop solar, a battery energy storage system and a microgrid for town buildings.

A microgrid is an energy system that would allow the town to store its own renewable energy and deploy it independently of the general grid in case of emergency. Aquinnah and Chilmark have already begun to explore a joint microgrid for public buildings up-Island.

“It saves energy all the time and helps us provide some resilience when we have our own Hurricane Sandy,” Mr. Strahler told the select board.

The select board voted unanimously to pursue the application.

“We’ll be high-tech very soon,” chairman Arthur Smadbeck said.