March 6 was town meeting day for Southport.

After election results were announced, warrant articles passed quickly by a voice vote until Article 29, which asked voters to amend the town bylaws to approve the sale of spirituous liquors at Oliver’s Restaurant in Cozy Harbor, an addition to the beer, wine, and soft drinks currently allowed for sale. A lively discussion ensued first to amend the by-laws to clarify the wording that the restaurant is not “on the wharf.” The wording was changed to “at Cozy Harbor.” After many references to the original proposal for the restaurant to retain the flavor and ambiance of the previous establishment known familiarly as Gus’s, with a reminder that a significant portion of the town’s aim in purchasing the property was to achieve access to the water for fishermen, and that we had voted on this question at least two previous years, a written ballot was called. With a 2/3 favorable vote require for passage, the article was defeated with 51 yes votes and 64 no votes.

Also concerning Oliver’s, Article 30 asked voters to change the by-laws so that the restaurant may advertise. After some discussion focusing generally on the small size of Cozy Harbor both for on land parking and visiting boats and on the stated seating limit of 30 people, a voice vote was called showing the article to be defeated.

Article 31 asking voters to make Southport a ‘dry town’ as pertains to marijuana was passed by voice vote with the note that personal and medical use of marijuana was now allowed by state law.

During the day 124 people cast their ballots for the first two articles on the warrant. They elected Matt Cole as moderator and reelected Gerry Gamage for selectman, assessor, and overseer of the poor. Gail Sprague was elected as treasurer, defeating Laura Hughes with 62 votes to Hughes’s 57 votes. Donna Climo will continue as town clerk. Jane Mulholland won over Laura Hughes for the position of school committee member 75 votes to 44 votes. Smith Climo will continue as a Boothbay Region Water District trustee. Each position is for a three-year term.

When the meeting reconvened at 7:30 p.m. Selectman Gerry Gamage led the approximately 120 people present in a pledge of allegiance to the flag, recognized those Southporters who had died during 2016, and those who have given much service to the island such as Donald Duncan on the Planning Board, Ed Furber on the Planning Board of Appeals, both of whom are stepping down from those responsibilites. Also recognized were Marcelle Durost, school principal, and Robbie Ham, president of the Board of Directors of the Boothbay Region Ambulance Service.

Smith Climo stepped forward to read the dedication comments in the Town Report, noting the long years of service in several major capacities of the town’s fire chief and head selectman, Gerry Gamage. After Mr. Gamage explained, as he does every year, what proportion of each $1,000 paid in taxes goes to each budget category, the voting began.

The next three articles, 3-5, were passed by a voice vote for reelecting Matt Cole to the Board of Library Trustees, Matt Cole, Stephen Gaudette and Oliver Cusano to the Budget Committee, and electing Bruce Frochlich to replace Jean Hasch as a Cemetery Trustee.

Late in the meeting, Article 38 asked for funding to purchase a new plow truck and plow for a total of $41,000. The article was passed with no discussion.

Article 48 elicited a question, a few comments, and a bit of laughter because the article asked for $1,000 to be given to the Fireworks Fund even though the fund had not requested any money. But Southport is a generous town and voted ‘yes’ to the budget committee’s recommendation as it had the previous year.

A more serious consequence occurred a few minutes later when Article 50, concerning the request for $660 from New Hope for Women was read. Sarah Sherman McGrail explained that this organization helps not just women but also men and children in need of protection from domestic violence. A citizen then raised the question as to why the town would vote $1,000 for a fireworks fund that did not request any money, and give only $660 to such a worthy cause. Again, a generous town, recognizing the reasonableness of this statement, raised the amount to be given to New Hope for Women to match the Fireworks Fund at $1,000.

Article 58, asking that the town vote to support the Joint Economic Development Committee with $5,000, passed after some questions and explanations by Hamilton Meserve and Nancy Prisk. Contributing funds to the long range planning work of this committee will give Southport a vote along with the other three towns on the peninsula and will support the long range planning for the peninsula that this nonprofit committee of volunteers has begun.

All other articles passed without comment. The meeting adjourned at 9:40 p.m. with folks a bit tired but grateful for so much good work well done by a dedicated group of people.