STRONG — The owners of a local restaurant are asking voters to approve a license to serve beer and wine.

Black Dog Café owners Eric and Barbara Heath have gathered registered voters’ signatures on a petition and presented it to selectmen. At last week’s meeting, selectmen scheduled a public hearing for 6 p.m. Tuesday, April 23, and a vote on May 13. Both public gatherings will be held at the Forster Memorial Building.

At the hearing, voters may ask questions about the Café’s proposal to serve alcoholic beverages from Wednesday through Saturday, with a separate article on the warrant to serve beer and wine Sundays.

Two other Strong retail stores, the White Elephant and Beal’s, have licenses to sell beer and wine to be taken out of the store. The Café meets requirements to serve alcohol on their premises. They operate in an enclosed dining area, separated from any sales at Beal’s Store, which adjoins the restaurant. If voters approve the Café’s request, the Maine Secretary of State’s office will grant them the license.

Town Clerk Raylene Tolman will have absentee ballots available upon request and will post the warrant at the town office and in public spots. Polls will be open from 2 to 6 p. m. on Monday, May 13.

The Heaths said they are delighted with the local support they have had since they opened.

“We get a lot of people who come in from Farmington and Kingfield and other towns, so it’s nice to think we’re able to provide a boost to the local economy,” Barbara said.

They hope to hire more help and make donations to the local school groups, she said. “We want to contribute more as we grow our business. For us, that’s what small towns are all about.”

Selectmen also set a new deadline for agenda articles for meetings. Since they meet at 7 p.m. on the second and fourth Tuesdays each month, the new deadline requires residents to add their topics by 4 p.m. on the first and third Tuesdays. Selectmen also noted meetings will not be conducted as public forums or hearings and will enforce their decision to allow public comments on agenda topics only.

Selectmen also have asked Superintendent Brenda Stevens and directors Marc Edwards and Ann Schwink to the May 14 meeting to explain the town’s proposed financial obligations to SAD 58 in the 2013-14 school year.