At a Selectmen's meeting at Abbot Hall Wednesday night, board members unanimously approved a request from Hungry Betty's Bar and Grille owner Patty Johnson to serve alcoholic beverages at an outdoor seating area.

The approval means that Johnson can begin offering her customers the option of dining at five tables lined up along the railing outside of her second-tier Village Plaza restaurant. The tables, she said, would be roped off and wouldn't impede with the flow of traffic to nearby businesses, including a nail salon next door.

Prior to the vote, Johnson's attorney assured board members that there would be adequate space for residents to pass by the seating area and said it would help Hungry Betty's "stay afloat" during what have proved to be tough summer months.

"I'd ask you to also consider this for Mrs. Johnson’s sake, she's put a lot of her money, life, blood, sweat and tears into this restaurant and the summer is very hard for restaurants that aren’t on the water," he said. "If the board can find it in their collective hearts to approve this, it may be one more step to keeping this business afloat."

Also speaking on behalf of the request was Carl Johnson, who said he regularly eats at the restaurant and thought local residents would jump at the chance to dine outside.

"I go there quite a bit, they’re friends of ours and I hope they do this because I think it's a good idea," Johnson said.