Charter Commission opens public hearing in Lisbon Falls to gather input on possible 2026 charter revisions

The Charter Commission convened a public hearing on Aug. 6, 2026 in Lisbon Falls to solicit community feedback on potential updates to the town charter, a document the commission said was last adopted in 2005. “The general purpose of this meeting is to gather public comments, hear people’s opinions on this particular effort that we're doing,” the chair said as the hearing opened.

Commissioners emphasized that the charter sets the high-level form and distribution of authority in town government, separate from ordinances or day-to-day management. Several members said the commission’s task is to craft a framework for the next 10 to 15 years and to collect broad community input before recommending changes to voters. The commission announced it will publish a group email address and other outreach materials so residents who do not attend can submit written comments.

The commission also outlined next steps and logistics: regular public input periods will be part of future meetings, and members said they will work to improve education about what charter changes can and cannot do. The chair invited residents to present comments at future meetings and through the forthcoming group email.