Complete Maine town forced 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 trip request.

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

She left on April 7. The town has had nobody to register vehicles, maintain essential records, or communicate with the state Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife.

The place of town clerk isn’t the one important opening in Passadumkeag. The town of 356 individuals additionally lacks a code enforcement officer, an assessor, an animal control officer, and a school administration official, based on The Bangor Daily News.

The city office shut all the way down to in-person guests until further discover, based on a press release despatched out on April 19.

“The Treasurer might be in a few days per week to just accept payments on issues corresponding to taxes,” the statement learn. “Please call the office before heading out to do any business here as there aren't any designated hours of operation now.”

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

It’s unclear when the town will be capable to fill the vacant positions and reopen for business. In March, town residents rejected a finances article meant to fund town operations after city officials did not adequately clarify the reasoning for a proposed wage enhance. The funds article also didn't embody funding for a code enforcement officer, a necessity under Maine regulation.

City officers mentioned that they're finding it difficult to fill the open posts attributable to monetary uncertainties. Additionally it is as a result of city’s small inhabitants, and the municipal roles being only part-time. Ms Bouchard was only contracted to work 16 hours every week — although she mentioned she often worked more — and was paid just $13,500 per yr.

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

“I do believe in time with the staff we've got, we'll get Passadumkeag again in order and searching good, but it can take a bit and goes to be a challenge for sure.”

In the intervening time, the people of Passadumkeag are counting on selectmen and different municipalities to carry out fundamental governmental responsibilities. It consists of getting registering their cars within the nearby municipality of Howland.