Total Maine town pressured to shut after its solely clerk quits over denied vacation

The single clerk in a small Maine city resigned after the board of selectmen denied her vacation 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 ago. 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 town has had nobody to register vehicles, hold crucial records, or communicate with the state Division of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife.

The place of town clerk isn’t the only necessary opening in Passadumkeag. The city of 356 folks additionally lacks a code enforcement officer, an assessor, an animal control officer, and a faculty administration official, in line with The Bangor Every day Information.

The town workplace shut down to in-person visitors till additional discover, in response to a press release despatched out on April 19.

“The Treasurer will be in a few days every week to just accept payments on issues corresponding to taxes,” the assertion read. “Please name the office earlier than heading out to do any enterprise here as there are not any designated hours of operation now.”

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

It’s unclear when the city will have the ability to fill the vacant positions and reopen for business. In March, town residents rejected a finances article meant to fund town operations after city officers didn't adequately explain the reasoning for a proposed salary enhance. The finances article additionally did not include funding for a code enforcement officer, a necessity beneath Maine legislation.

Town officers mentioned that they are finding it troublesome to fill the open posts attributable to financial uncertainties. It is usually due to the city’s small population, and the municipal roles being only part-time. Ms Bouchard was solely contracted to work 16 hours every week — although she stated she usually labored more — and was paid just $13,500 per year.

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

“I do believe in time with the group we now have, we'll get Passadumkeag back so as and looking good, however it should take a bit and goes to be a problem for sure.”

For the time being, the people of Passadumkeag are relying on selectmen and different municipalities to carry out elementary governmental duties. It includes getting registering their automobiles in the nearby municipality of Howland.