The Board of Selectmen voted Tuesday to modify the Hilltop Package Store license to sell alcohol after the owner failed to open the store during the hours described in the license.

Store-owner Harry Winston said during a hearing that he is struggling financially and is trying to sell the Sandwich Road store and repay debt, rather than file for bankruptcy. The business would be more attractive to buyers if the liquor license could be transferred to the new owner.

The Board allowed Winston to modify the hours of operation on the license to Monday through Saturday, noon to 9 p.m., closed Sunday. It previously opened from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon to 6 p.m. on Sunday.

Winston has until June 15 to sell the business or face another hearing regarding the license.

In other business:

The Board approved the renewal of seasonal licenses for all alcoholic beverages for Ella's Wood Burning Oven Restaurant on Cranberry Highway and Point Independence Yacht Club on Independence Lane. It approved the renewal of seasonal licenses for wines and malt beverages for China Garden on Marion Road and The Lobster Pot on Cranberry Highway.

Town Administrator Mark Andrews provided an update about the town's effort to secure eight additional liquor licenses. State Rep. Theodore Speliotis (D-Danvers) will visit Town Hall Monday, March 22 at 11 a.m. to discuss the legislation.

The Board appointed Lori Benson to the Community Events Committee and Joseph Schneider to the Affordable Housing Trust. Both terms expire on June 30, 2011.

Open Space Committee Chair Sandra Slavin said the committee is working on a seven-year action plan. The completed plan will allow the town to apply for certain grant money it isn't currently eligible for without a plan in place.

Town Administrator Mark Andrews said he met last week with Superintendent Barry Rabinovitch and other school district staff along with representatives from the Massachusetts School Building Authority to discuss capital programs and a possible feasibility study for updating school buildings.

The town received a $5,000 state grant for the purchase of a refrigerator to store vaccines for the Wareham Board of Health flu clinics, Andrews said.

The Board approved the transfer of a used engine from a older police department vehicle to the Onset Fire Department for use in one of that department's vehicles.