LISBON — Citing willful financial irresponsibility and failure to act on constituents’ demands to reduce spending, five residents have formed a recall committee in an attempt to remove the chairman of the Town Council and a second councilor from office.

Instead of fighting for his seat, Jeremy Barnard, who was elected in November, resigned five days after the filing.

Chairman Fern Larochelle is also a subject of the recall.

Notarized recall affidavits were filed with the Town Office on June 18 by Grace Dube, Ronald Dube, Joseph Costa, Naomi Morton Loss and Ally Aspinall.

The effort comes as Lisbon officials face pressure from residents angry at a potential municipal tax increase caused by errors that left the town in a huge financial hole and its fund balance at a dangerously low level.

Larochelle has filed for an external review of the charges cited against him.

This marks the first step in what could be a long process.

Larochelle has served on the council for nearly 20 years. The statement of reason for Larochelle’s potential recall claims “Larochelle has demonstrated a pattern of neglecting core financial and ethical responsibilities associated with his official duties as chair of the Lisbon Town Council.”

The affidavit claims that Larochelle has repeatedly said that he wishes to “ween the town off of the unassigned fund balance.” It later states that despite contrary evidence, his position would lead or already led to a “structural budget deficit.”

The petitioners say evidence includes what they claim is a 60% increase in municipal expenditures without proportional growth during the past two budget cycles.

Larochelle has also been accused of conflict-of-interest issues exposing the town to legal action by failing to recuse himself. Exact instances are not spelled out in the complaint.

According to the town charter, an independent third-party who is not a property owner, business owner, taxpayer or resident who has experience in municipal matters will be appointed by the Town Council to review the reasons for the recall. The examiner will conduct an investigation and file a written report. If the examiner rules that it does not meet the criteria of sufficient cause, the affidavit is dismissed.

Both parties have the right to file an appeal to the Lisbon Ethics Panel.

Barnard, who has resigned, is no longer subject to the recall. Barnard opposed the budget because he felt the cuts made by town officials were too deep.

“A lot of the cuts we make we’re going to look back and not appreciate that and see that we perhaps have cut too deep in some areas,” he said at the last council meeting.

The council will determine how to fill his seat.