MINOT — John Hicks, promoter of the Great North Music Festival, and Michael Hemond of Hemond Motocross Park on Monday asked the Board of Selectmen to approve a mass-gathering permit for a concert to be held in September at the motocross facility.

Hicks requested that the town follow the state’s mass-gathering ordinance because he needed to “get the ball rolling.”

Selectmen noted that the application for last year’s concert was submitted one month prior to the concert, whereas this request was being made more than half a year in advance.

Selectman Lisa Cesare said she was extremely uncomfortable with any approval because townspeople are scheduled to vote on a mass-gathering ordinance at town meeting March 4.

Cesare felt that the board should wait until residents have their say.

Hicks and Hemond disagreed.

The rest of the Board of Selectmen agreed with Cesare and directed Town Administrator Arlan Saunders to obtain a legal opinion about waiting for the town meeting vote in March.

Selectmen voted to table action until the board’s Feb. 13 meeting.

Hemond again requested that the board go ahead on the permit.

Board Chairman Steve French said, “We are just trying to do what’s right.”

Continuing with the meeting, selectmen approved the warrant for the annual town meeting. Voters will act on a $1.78 million budget and other articles prepared by the Planning Board that amend the town’s land-use code.

These include amendments to sections of the code pertaining to accessory apartments, home occupancy and life safety and fire suppression.

This year, town meeting attendees are being asked to approve a mass-gathering ordinance, being devised primarily, as noted above, in response to complaints arising from the late hours during which loud music was heard well beyond the bounds of Hemond’s Motocross Park, where the three-day event was held.

Selectmen approved placing two versions of the proposed mass-gathering ordinance on the town meeting warrant, with Article 7 calling for the music to cease at midnight on Saturday and Sunday, and with Article 8 establishing a cutoff time of 1 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday.

In other business, selectmen divided the $2,500 that Town Treasurer Holly Packard determined was available in the Arthur Harris/Center Minot Hill Grange scholarship fund equally among the five applicants: Tia Rotolico, Anthony Rotolico, Elizabeth Callahan, Shawn Mitchell and Rayven Niva.

Highway Supervisor Scott Penny advised selectmen that the sand pile has taken a big hit and the town may need to buy more sand.