Entire Maine town pressured to close after its solely clerk quits over denied trip

The only 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 trip a few month and a half in the past. Her plea was denied by the board of selectmen. They claimed that nobody was obtainable to step in for her.

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

The place of city clerk isn’t the only important opening in Passadumkeag. The city of 356 individuals also lacks a code enforcement officer, an assessor, an animal control officer, and a faculty administration official, in response to The Bangor Day by day Information.

The town office shut all the way down to in-person guests till additional discover, in line with an announcement despatched out on April 19.

“The Treasurer will likely be in a couple of days every week to just accept funds on things such as taxes,” the statement read. “Please call the workplace before heading out to do any business here as there are not any designated hours of operation now.”

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

It’s unclear when the city will be able to fill the vacant positions and reopen for business. In March, city residents rejected a budget article meant to fund city operations after city officers failed to adequately explain the reasoning for a proposed salary enhance. The finances article additionally did not embody funding for a code enforcement officer, a necessity under Maine law.

Town officials said that they are finding it troublesome to fill the open posts attributable to monetary uncertainties. Additionally it is because of the city’s small population, and the municipal roles being only part-time. Ms Bouchard was only contracted to work 16 hours each week — though she said she typically worked more — and was paid just $13,500 per yr.

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

“I do imagine in time with the crew we now have, we'll get Passadumkeag back in order and searching good, but it would take a bit and goes to be a challenge for sure.”

In the meanwhile, the folks of Passadumkeag are counting on selectmen and other municipalities to perform elementary governmental responsibilities. It contains getting registering their vehicles in the close by municipality of Howland.