Commission OKs changing charter notice language to 'local media,' extends posting to 48 hours

Commissioners voted to amend Article 10 to modernize how the city gives public notice: the charter's reference to a "local newspaper" was replaced with the broader term "local media," and the minimum advance posting requirement for agendas was extended from 24 to 48 hours.

The motion originated as a proposal to require notice "in a prominent place on the official City of Biddeford website," but commissioners amended the text to substitute the term "local media" after members raised concerns about excluding residents without internet access. The interim city clerk explained that, in practice, agendas and bulletin-board postings are typically prepared and posted simultaneously and that newspaper advertising timelines can complicate emergency or short-notice meetings.

Commissioner 3 proposed language intended to be technology-agnostic, and a community member who identified himself as a local publisher warned that roughly "13.6% seniors in your county don't have online access." In final discussion a commissioner said the charter floor for notice was actually lower than the city council rule (which requires posting by 4 p.m., six days before a meeting), and the commission agreed the charter language should avoid locking the city into a single platform.

The amendment to change the notice wording to "local media" passed; the subsequent amendment extending the posting requirement to 48 hours also passed. The chair reported the final voice vote on the amended Article 10 language as five in favor and two opposed.