Entire Maine city forced to shut after its only clerk quits over denied trip

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

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

She left on April 7. The city has had no one to register automobiles, maintain essential records, or talk with the state Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife.

The position of town clerk isn’t the one important opening in Passadumkeag. The town of 356 people additionally lacks a code enforcement officer, an assessor, an animal control officer, and a college administration official, according to The Bangor Each day Information.

The city office shut right down to in-person guests until further notice, in keeping with a statement despatched out on April 19.

“The Treasurer can be in a couple of days a week to accept funds on issues such as taxes,” the assertion read. “Please call the workplace earlier than heading out to do any enterprise here as there aren't any designated hours of operation now.”

Treasurer Barbara Boyer has apparently been coming into the workplace to gather tax funds. Nonetheless, she is reportedly unable to register automobiles, do building inspections, conduct animal welfare checks, or undertake many of the other tasks that Ms. Bouchard was liable for.

It’s unclear when the town will be able to fill the vacant positions and reopen for enterprise. In March, town residents rejected a funds article meant to fund city operations after town officers didn't adequately clarify the reasoning for a proposed salary enhance. The finances article also did not embrace funding for a code enforcement officer, a necessity below Maine legislation.

City officials mentioned that they are discovering it troublesome to fill the open posts attributable to financial uncertainties. Additionally it is as a result of town’s small inhabitants, and the municipal roles being solely part-time. Ms Bouchard was solely contracted to work 16 hours each week — though she said she usually labored extra — and was paid just $13,500 per year.

“We have been left with a mess from years of neglect and are doing as a lot as we can to get our city again in order,” first selectman Brad McKechnie said.

“I do imagine in time with the team we have now, we'll get Passadumkeag back so as and looking out good, but it will take a bit and is going to be a problem for positive.”

For the time being, the folks of Passadumkeag are counting on selectmen and other municipalities to perform fundamental governmental tasks. It consists of getting registering their automobiles within the close by municipality of Howland.