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

The only 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 trip a couple of month and a half in the past. 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 no one to register automobiles, keep crucial data, or communicate with the state Division of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife.

The position of city clerk isn’t the one essential opening in Passadumkeag. The city of 356 individuals additionally lacks a code enforcement officer, an assessor, an animal management officer, and a school administration official, based on The Bangor Every day Information.

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

“The Treasurer might be in a few days every week to just accept payments on things resembling taxes,” the assertion read. “Please call the office before heading out to do any business here as there are no designated hours of operation now.”

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

It’s unclear when the town will be able to fill the vacant positions and reopen for business. In March, town residents rejected a finances article meant to fund city operations after town officials failed to adequately explain the reasoning for a proposed wage enhance. The budget article also didn't include funding for a code enforcement officer, a necessity below Maine law.

City officials mentioned that they are discovering it difficult to fill the open posts on account of monetary uncertainties. It's also due to the town’s small population, and the municipal roles being only part-time. Ms Bouchard was only contracted to work 16 hours every week — although she said she often worked extra — and was paid simply $13,500 per 12 months.

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

“I do imagine in time with the group we now have, we'll get Passadumkeag back in order and looking good, however it would take a bit and goes to be a problem for positive.”

For the time being, the folks of Passadumkeag are counting on selectmen and other municipalities to perform fundamental governmental obligations. It consists of getting registering their cars within the close by municipality of Howland.