Last year, Ted Hugger was all smiles attending his first-ever town meeting. Now, the Edgecomb businessman is the only candidate seeking election to the board of selectman. Edgecomb will conduct municipal elections from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Friday, May 20.

The annual town meeting begins at 10 a.m. on Saturday, May 21. Both events take place in the municipal building. Hugger, a Michigan native, and his wife Jill own the Cod Cove Inn on Route 27. The Huggers moved to Edgecomb in 2014. The couple previously lived in Cape Elizabeth for 25 years before purchasing the inn.

Hugger is seeking to replace Jessica Chubbuck, who decided against seeking another three-year term as selectman.

Mark Graham is the other newcomer to the municipal ballot. He is seeking a three-year term to the Edgecomb School Committee. Graham has lived in town for eight years and his children attended Edgecomb Eddy School. If elected, he would succeed the current Edgecomb School Committee chairman, Sarah Clifford, who declined to seek another three-year term.

The ballot also includes incumbents seeking re-election: Claudia Coffin, treasurer and town clerk; Deb Boucher,  tax collector; and Scott Griffin, road commissioner. All of these offices are for one-year terms.

Gretchen Burleigh-Johnson and Barry Hathorne are seeking re-election to the planning board. Burleigh-Johnson is on the ballot. Hathorne is running as a write-in candidate. Both terms are for three years.

On Saturday, residents will vote on modest increases in the municipal and school budget. The combined proposed municipal and school budget is $3,885,086 which is a 3.88 percent increase. Proposed municipal spending is as follows: general government, $157,465; public safety, $109,682; highways and bridges, $523,179; health and sanitation, $112,649; county taxes, $275,045; unclassified, $14,019; and other $14,781. These categories account for 31.17 percent of proposed spending. The remaining 68.83 percent is from the $2,664,336 proposed school budget.

The school committee proposed spending is $125,154 or a 4.7 percent increase. Higher special education spending accounts for 94 percent of the proposed school budget’s increase.

The proposed $441,465 special education budget includes $25,917 for a new, one-on-one educational technician, $66,320 for six students’ tuition, and $18,247 for increased contracted services such as occupational therapy and physical therapy. Alternative Organizational Structure (AOS) 98 Superintendent Eileen King explained during the May 10 budget hearing that the committee is required to provide these services based on the federal Individuals with Disabilities Act. It mandates that students receive a free public education in the least restrictive environment.

“I hate to say this, but these costs are out of our control,” King said. “We can’t just hire one teacher or provide one program for all these students. The program is based on an individualized education plan created by educators, administrators and parents. These students have a variety of needs which must be meant.”

The proposed municipal budget shows a four percent increase. The selectmen accepted all but one of the budget committee’s recommendations. The budget committee proposed $75,509 for fire department operation. Fire Chief Roy Potter requested $89,439.

The budget committee and fire department disagree on the number of new suits of turnout gear to purchase. Potter received a discounted price for 15 suits. The budget committee recommended purchasing eight this year and seven next.

The selectmen originally favored the budget committee’s recommendation, but they wanted the voters to decide which option to accept.

Town officials are planning to break during the meeting for a soup and sandwich community meal prepared by Edgecomb Eddy School students, according to Selectman Mike Smith.