MINOT — The annual town meeting commences at 4 p.m. Friday, March 4, at the Town Office when polls open to elect two selectmen and two representatives to the Regional School Unit 16 board of directors.

Selectmen Steve French and Dan Gilpatric are running unopposed for three-year terms.

Longtime school board member Steve Holbrook is running for another three-year term.

Annette Hemond is seeking a second term on the school board as a write-in candidate. Hemond submitted her nomination papers on time, but a few signatures were disqualified so she decided to run as a write-in candidate.

Polls will close at 8 p..m.

The business portion of the meeting will open at 9 p.m. Saturday, March 5, at Minot Consolidated School to set the municipal budget and act on all other warrant articles. The budget, as proposed, calls for spending $1.76 million, about $22,000 more than this year.

Selectmen and the Budget Committee are recommending that voters reject the Fire Department’s request for $40,000 to replace the forestry truck. If the recommendation is followed, next year’s budget would be about $18,000 less than this year’s.

Selectmen and the Budget Committee are backing a $33,000 increase in the summer paving budget, which would allocate $328,000 for Verrill, North Verrill, Garfield and the lower section of Center Minot Hill roads.

There is also a $10,000 request for a new zero-turn mower, primarily for use on the town’s athletic fields. It would replace a mower that has over 1,200 hours of use and isn’t expected to last the season.

The Minot Historical Society will serve breakfast and offer baked goods for people to take home.