On Nov. 8, Lisbon voters will decide the town’s form of government. A municipal charter is being proposed by an elected charter commission. In 2004, voters elected to establish a commission to consider a charter. The commission was proposed because of concerns of inefficiency and underrepresentation by the current system, in place since 1799.

The commission met 15 times over the course of a year, including two public hearings. Multiple forms of government were considered, including referendum voting. A copy of the proposed charter was sent to all residents’ homes for direct review.

After a thorough assessment, it is our opinion that the proposed charter should be approved. We believe an elected, seven-member town council will be more efficient and reduce the special interest problems our town meetings have increasingly endured. As combined town and school budgets now total more than $20 million annually, it is time to put our municipal operations on a businesslike footing.

We also believe the commission has built in limitations (all borrowing over $100,000 must be by referendum), and safeguards (citizens would be able to recall elected officials and petition ordinances and budgets to a special town meeting) to protect taxpayers against abuses of power. The charter seeks to build on the strengths of the current system, only changing those things that need to be fixed.

We believe the town charter is a positive change for Lisbon democracy. We ask Lisbon residents to exercise their right to vote on this most important decision.

Lisbon Board of Selectmen, Michael Bowie, chairman