An all-alcohol license for the Black Dog Bakery and Cafe on State Road is on hold as Tisbury selectmen iron out confusion about the town’s alcohol licensing requirements.

Representatives from the restaurant came before selectmen for the second week in a row Tuesday, asking to amend their beer and wine license to an all-alcohol license in light of the town’s recent approval of adding spirits to restaurant menus.

Discussion came to a stalemate because of disagreement about part of the bylaw stating that patrons can only be served alcoholic drinks after they have been seated for a meal, and the drinks must be delivered to the table by a waitperson.

At the Black Dog Cafe patrons order food and drinks at the counter, and then are served any alcoholic drinks once they’ve been seated at a table. Last week selectmen asked cafe general manager and pastry chef Laura Beckman to return with a plan to seat patrons before they order alcoholic beverages.

Ms. Beckman and Robert Douglas Jr. said this week that they thought the cafe already complies with town requirements, which they said apply to how alcohol is served, not how it is ordered.

But selectman Tristan Israel said he would not vote in favor of amending the cafe license unless they change how customers are seated.

“There should be a mechanism to seat that person, and then someone come and take their order,” he said. “Not to take their order at the counter . . . the intent is that you’re sitting at the table.”

Chairman Larry Gomez said he was not in favor of granting the cafe an amended license at all because he felt serving alcohol at the cafe didn’t make sense.

“I really think this is not a good thing,” he said. “It’s a completely different type of business as opposed to a restaurant-restaurant.”

Selectmen continued the hearing until June 27 so town administrator John (Jay) Grande could consult with town counsel on the issue.

Selectmen are also still in the process of amending overall alcohol regulations to include liquor. A hearing on the regulations was continued after selectmen were unsure if some changes would require town meeting approval.

In other business, selectmen agreed to pay out a total of $25,500 to cover unused vacation time accumulated by town employees. Representatives from the personnel board said the excess of unused vacation days is due to staffing shortages that make it hard for employees to take vacation time. “I think it’s very fair to pay them for the time they haven’t taken vacation,” said personnel board member John (Jack) Rollins. “ Also those people must know, if they don’t take vacation in the coming year, they are going to lose it . . . it’s been going on for years now, people carry over vacation, and at some time it’s going to be a huge liability.”

Some employees, like the building inspector or town accountant, have to close their offices when they take vacation time.

“What do you do about the building inspector . . . he can’t take a vacation, and then you get into a staffing situation that has nothing to do with the personnel policy,” said Mr. Rollins. “Let’s clean the books and then you folks take care of the staffing issue.”

Selectman Melinda Loberg said cross-training and sharing resources between towns may help alleviate the burden on essential employees who need to use vacation time. Even without someone to cover the duties, she said, town employees should still take their vacations.

“I think the office can be closed for a week,” she said.

Selectmen also continued a hearing about moped regulations, saying they needed to further develop a section on enforcement.