Whole Maine city compelled to shut after its only clerk quits over denied trip

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

Christen Bouchard was the town clerk in Passadumkeag, Maine, since 2020. She requested a two-week vacation a few month and a half ago. Her plea was denied by the board of selectmen. They claimed that nobody was out there to step in for her.

She left on April 7. The city has had nobody to register vehicles, keep crucial data, or talk with the state Division of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife.

The position of city clerk isn’t the one necessary opening in Passadumkeag. The town of 356 folks additionally lacks a code enforcement officer, an assessor, an animal management officer, and a school administration official, in line with The Bangor Daily News.

The city office shut all the way down to in-person visitors until further notice, in keeping with an announcement despatched out on April 19.

“The Treasurer will likely be in a couple of days a week to just accept payments on issues reminiscent of taxes,” the assertion learn. “Please name the workplace before 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 office to gather tax payments. Nonetheless, she is reportedly unable to register vehicles, do constructing inspections, conduct animal welfare checks, or undertake lots of the different tasks that Ms. Bouchard was responsible for.

It’s unclear when the town will have the ability to fill the vacant positions and reopen for business. In March, city residents rejected a price range article meant to fund city operations after town officials didn't adequately explain the reasoning for a proposed wage increase. The price range article additionally did not embrace funding for a code enforcement officer, a necessity underneath Maine regulation.

City officers mentioned that they are discovering it difficult to fill the open posts resulting from monetary uncertainties. It's also because of the city’s small population, and the municipal roles being solely part-time. Ms Bouchard was only contracted to work 16 hours every week — though she said she usually labored extra — and was paid just $13,500 per year.

“We now have been left with a mess from years of neglect and are doing as much as we will to get our town again in order,” first selectman Brad McKechnie mentioned.

“I do consider in time with the staff now we have, we are going to get Passadumkeag again so as and searching good, but it would take a bit and is going to be a challenge for certain.”

For the time being, the individuals of Passadumkeag are counting on selectmen and other municipalities to perform elementary governmental tasks. It includes getting registering their automobiles within the nearby municipality of Howland.