Whole Maine town pressured to shut after its solely clerk quits over denied trip

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

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

She left on April 7. The city has had no one to register vehicles, preserve crucial data, or talk with the state Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife.

The place of town clerk isn’t the one important opening in Passadumkeag. The city of 356 people also lacks a code enforcement officer, an assessor, an animal management officer, and a college administration official, in accordance with The Bangor Daily Information.

The city workplace shut all the way down to in-person visitors till further discover, in accordance with an announcement despatched out on April 19.

“The Treasurer can be in a couple of days every week to just accept funds on issues resembling taxes,” the assertion read. “Please name the workplace earlier than heading out to do any business right here as there are no designated hours of operation now.”

Treasurer Barbara Boyer has apparently been coming into the workplace to gather tax payments. Nonetheless, she is reportedly unable to register vehicles, do building inspections, conduct animal welfare checks, or undertake lots of the different tasks that Ms. Bouchard was answerable for.

It’s unclear when the city will be capable of fill the vacant positions and reopen for enterprise. In March, town residents rejected a price range article meant to fund city operations after city officers didn't adequately explain the reasoning for a proposed wage improve. The finances article additionally did not embrace funding for a code enforcement officer, a necessity below Maine legislation.

Town officers mentioned that they are finding it troublesome to fill the open posts as a result of financial uncertainties. It's also as a result of town’s small population, and the municipal roles being only part-time. Ms Bouchard was only contracted to work 16 hours each week — though she stated she often labored more — and was paid simply $13,500 per year.

“We have been left with a large number from years of neglect and are doing as a lot as we will to get our city again so as,” first selectman Brad McKechnie said.

“I do consider in time with the crew we've, we are going to get Passadumkeag again in order and looking good, but it should take a bit and goes to be a problem for certain.”

In the intervening time, the people of Passadumkeag are relying on selectmen and other municipalities to perform elementary governmental responsibilities. It consists of getting registering their cars in the close by municipality of Howland.