Complete Maine town compelled to shut after its only clerk quits over denied vacation

The one clerk in a small Maine town 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 about a month and a half ago. Her plea was denied by the board of selectmen. They claimed that no one was obtainable to step in for her.

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

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

The town office shut all the way down to in-person guests until additional notice, in response to a press release despatched out on April 19.

“The Treasurer can be in a few days every week to just accept funds on things akin to taxes,” the statement read. “Please name the office earlier than heading out to do any enterprise here as there are no designated hours of operation now.”

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

It’s unclear when the town will be capable of fill the vacant positions and reopen for enterprise. In March, town residents rejected a finances article meant to fund town operations after town officers failed to adequately clarify the reasoning for a proposed wage increase. The finances article also did not embody funding for a code enforcement officer, a necessity under Maine law.

City officials stated that they're discovering it tough to fill the open posts on account of financial 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 — although she said she usually worked more — and was paid simply $13,500 per year.

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

“I do consider in time with the staff now we have, we'll get Passadumkeag again in order and looking good, however it is going to take a bit and is going to be a problem for sure.”

In the intervening time, the individuals of Passadumkeag are relying on selectmen and different municipalities to carry out basic governmental duties. It includes getting registering their cars within the close by municipality of Howland.