Complete Maine city pressured to shut after its solely clerk quits over denied trip

The one clerk in a small Maine city resigned after the board of selectmen denied her vacation request.

Christen Bouchard was the city clerk in Passadumkeag, Maine, since 2020. She requested a two-week trip about a month and a half in the past. Her plea was denied by the board of selectmen. They claimed that no one was obtainable to step in for her.

She left on April 7. The town has had no one to register vehicles, keep crucial information, or communicate with the state Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife.

The position of city clerk isn’t the one essential opening in Passadumkeag. The city of 356 folks also lacks a code enforcement officer, an assessor, an animal management officer, and a faculty administration official, in keeping with The Bangor Each day News.

The town office shut all the way down to in-person guests until additional discover, in response to a statement despatched out on April 19.

“The Treasurer might be in a few days a week to accept funds on things akin to taxes,” the statement learn. “Please call the office before heading out to do any enterprise here as there are no designated hours of operation now.”

Treasurer Barbara Boyer has apparently been coming into the office to collect tax payments. Nonetheless, she is reportedly unable to register autos, do building inspections, conduct animal welfare checks, or undertake lots of the other tasks that Ms. Bouchard was liable for.

It’s unclear when the city will have the ability to fill the vacant positions and reopen for business. In March, town residents rejected a budget article meant to fund city operations after town officers didn't adequately explain the reasoning for a proposed salary increase. The finances article additionally didn't embody funding for a code enforcement officer, a necessity below Maine regulation.

City officers said that they're discovering it troublesome to fill the open posts because of financial uncertainties. It's also as a result of town’s small population, and the municipal roles being solely part-time. Ms Bouchard was only contracted to work 16 hours every week — although she said she often worked more — and was paid just $13,500 per year.

“We've got been left with a mess from years of neglect and are doing as a lot as we will to get our city again so as,” first selectman Brad McKechnie mentioned.

“I do consider in time with the team we now have, we are going to get Passadumkeag again so as and looking out good, however it can take a bit and goes to be a problem for sure.”

In the meanwhile, the individuals of Passadumkeag are counting on selectmen and different municipalities to carry out basic governmental duties. It consists of getting registering their cars within the close by municipality of Howland.