It’s mostly business as usual down on Southport. The election March 5 has a few races, but all the candidates are running uncontested. These include Mary Lou Koskela for selectman, Gerry Gamage for fire chief, Donna Climo for tax collector and Adam Harkins for school committee member.

Polls will be open from 10 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. Town meeting takes place that same night at 7:30 p.m. at the town hall.

According to Gamage, who is the selectmen’s chairman, the town budget has remained fairly steady with a small increase over last year.

“The school budget is up some,” Gamage said. “And we need a new dump truck, plow and sander, which is about $170,000, so that’s an increase over last year.”

According to the town warrant, $25,000 from the public works equipment fund will be used to partially fund the truck.

The town is also hoping to improve the town hall. Voters will be asked to approve $17,000 with another $8,000 coming from the town hall maintenance fund, for a total of $25,000. The town is also looking to purchase a new generator for $12,000, which is a new expense.

“What I’d really like to see is putting the balcony back into the town hall,” Gamage said. “It’s my little pet project, and we can move forward with it if the voters approve.”

The warrant also proposes amendments to the town code, including changes regarding structures, permits, the land use ordinance, and the process of the appeals board. All proposed changes can be viewed on the town website.

At selectmen’s most recent meeting, Gamage gave an update on the Route 238 speed issue, where the board is attempting to lower the speed limit to increase safety.

“We – that is, Stephanie Hawke and I – met with the MDOT commissioner David B. Bernhardt,” Gamage said. “We had a 45-minute discussion and he said he’d get back to us in a day or two. That was three weeks ago.”

“He took the time to meet with us, and that was good, but if they don’t fulfill what they promise...,” Gamage trailed off, and looked at Koskela. “What’s the possibility of talking to the governor, do you think?”

Selectmen meet every Wednesday at the town hall. A storm postponed the Feb. 7 meeting. Gamage drove to the houses of Koskela and Selectman Smith Climo so they could “stay tucked in” out of the storm, Koskela said.