Total Maine city forced to close after its only clerk quits over denied trip

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

Christen Bouchard was the town 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 accessible to step in for her.

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

The position of city clerk isn’t the one vital 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, in keeping with The Bangor Daily News.

The town workplace shut down to in-person visitors until additional notice, according to a statement despatched out on April 19.

“The Treasurer shall be in a few days a week to accept payments on things reminiscent of taxes,” the statement read. “Please call the office earlier than heading out to do any business right 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. 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 town will be able to fill the vacant positions and reopen for business. In March, city residents rejected a funds article meant to fund city operations after town officers didn't adequately explain the reasoning for a proposed wage improve. The funds article additionally did not embody funding for a code enforcement officer, a necessity under Maine regulation.

City officials said that they're finding it difficult to fill the open posts due to monetary uncertainties. It's also because of the city’s small population, and the municipal roles being only part-time. Ms Bouchard was solely contracted to work 16 hours every week — though she mentioned she often worked more — and was paid just $13,500 per year.

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

“I do consider in time with the group now we have, we'll get Passadumkeag again in order and searching good, but it'll take a bit and goes to be a problem for certain.”

In the meanwhile, the individuals of Passadumkeag are counting on selectmen and other municipalities to perform basic governmental tasks. It consists of getting registering their automobiles within the close by municipality of Howland.