This week, selectmen approved Sunday liquor store openings, allowing any of the seven package stores in town to sell beer, wine and spirits if they choose to. Selectmen unanimously voted to allow the Sunday sales and decided not to set a fee for these permits. The permits are issued in addition to the establishments’ annual liquor licenses.

All of the liquor store owners at the Monday night selectmen’s meeting said they wanted to sell alcohol on Sunday because they have started to lose their Saturday customers to stores in towns like Marshfield and Plymouth, which have already voted to allow Sunday openings.

“It’s inevitable that this will take place,” said Joe Carroll, who with his wife Carole, owns Duxbury Wine and Spirits in Hall’s Corner. “Other towns already do it. It’s a competitive requirement.”

Carroll said that his store won’t gain any business, but that his customers will be spread out more since they don’t have to shop on Saturdays. He added that since the Grand Union closed, traffic in Hall’s Corner on Saturdays has decreased.

Nancy McDonough, owner of the Duxbury General Store, said she would like to be able to sell beer and wine on Sundays since her store was open then already. On the last Patriot’s Sunday playoff game, McDonough said many of her customers asked if they could buy alcohol, but they were told to go to Marshfield. Other store owners experienced the same thing last Sunday and said they lost business on Saturday because people didn’t plan ahead and buy when Duxbury stores were open.

Although the package store owners supported the Sunday openings many said they would rather not have to work Sunday.

“We want to be open on Sundays – kicking and screaming,” said Carroll. “I don’t want to work. It’s a defensive measure.”

Selectmen decided against setting a fee for the Sunday permit for the first year.

“I don’t think you want to put a burden on local businesses or make it inconvenient for people who want to patronize the businesses in town, and since there are no out-of-pocket expenses for the taxpayer, I don’t see a need for a fee,” said Selectman John Tuffy.

The package stores must open after noon on Sundays and must close at or before 11 p.m. Sales are not permitted on certain holidays including Memorial Day, Thanksgiving Day, or Christmas Day. Employees must receive time and half.

In other business, selectmen:

*Were informed that five articles on the town meeting warrant are being withdrawn. Two are from the planning board, one is from the DPW and two are regarding the Pilgrim Nuclear power plant. One of these is from the Nuclear Advisory Committee and one is a citizen’s petition.

*Learned from town manager Rocco Longo that an architect has been chosen to study the Wright building on St. George St. for Americans with Disabilities Act compliance and for historical preservation. Community Preservation Committee Chairwoman Holly Morris and Conservation Administrator Joe Grady selected the architect firm of Feingold, Alexander and Associates from a pool of 12 applicants. They narrowed the pool down to three and then interviewed them. The contract is $46,000, which is less than the $50,000 budgeted for the study.

*Learned that the town will be reimbursed 75 percent of the cost of snow plowing the large early December storm. The money comes from the federal government after Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney declared a state of emergency.

*Were informed that the town won one of the two lawsuits against it regarding piers. The court upheld a decision by the Conservation Commission denying a pier for the Harrington property on Hornbeam Road. However, the court overruled the Conservation Commission’s denial of a pier on the Bicknell property on Seabury Point, because there had been an existing pier there in the past.

*Learned from selectman Andre Martecchini that other South Shore selectmen are interested in banding together to form a regional group to discuss larger political issues, such as nuclear disaster planning.

*Declared a temporary bonus shellfish season for the commercial harvesting of soft-shell clams and quahogs and for recreational harvesting of soft-shell clams.