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

The single clerk in a small Maine town 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 vacation a few month and a half ago. Her plea was denied by the board of selectmen. They claimed that nobody was available to step in for her.

She left on April 7. The city has had nobody to register vehicles, hold crucial records, or talk with the state Division of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife.

The place of town clerk isn’t the one essential opening in Passadumkeag. The town of 356 people additionally lacks a code enforcement officer, an assessor, an animal control officer, and a faculty administration official, in line with The Bangor Daily News.

The town workplace shut all the way down to in-person guests until further discover, according to a press release sent out on April 19.

“The Treasurer can be in a few days every week to accept payments on issues reminiscent of taxes,” the statement read. “Please call the office earlier than 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 gather tax funds. Nonetheless, she is reportedly unable to register vehicles, do building inspections, conduct animal welfare checks, or undertake most of the other tasks that Ms. Bouchard was chargeable for.

It’s unclear when the city will be able to fill the vacant positions and reopen for enterprise. In March, city residents rejected a finances article meant to fund city operations after city officers failed to adequately clarify the reasoning for a proposed wage improve. The budget article also did not embrace funding for a code enforcement officer, a necessity under Maine regulation.

City officers stated that they are discovering it difficult to fill the open posts resulting from financial uncertainties. It is 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 extra — and was paid just $13,500 per year.

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

“I do consider in time with the staff we've got, we will get Passadumkeag back in order and looking good, but it'll take a bit and is going to be a challenge for sure.”

For the time being, the people of Passadumkeag are relying on selectmen and different municipalities to perform elementary governmental responsibilities. It contains getting registering their vehicles in the close by municipality of Howland.