Complete Maine city pressured to shut 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 about a month and a half ago. Her plea was denied by the board of selectmen. They claimed that nobody was obtainable to step in for her.

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

The position of town clerk isn’t the only vital opening in Passadumkeag. The city of 356 people also 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 down to in-person guests until additional discover, in keeping with a statement despatched out on April 19.

“The Treasurer might be in a few days a week to just accept funds on things corresponding to taxes,” the assertion learn. “Please name the office before heading out to do any business right here as there are no 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 autos, do constructing inspections, conduct animal welfare checks, or undertake lots of the different tasks that Ms. Bouchard was liable for.

It’s unclear when the town will be capable to fill the vacant positions and reopen for business. 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 increase. The budget article additionally did not embody funding for a code enforcement officer, a necessity under Maine legislation.

City officers said that they are discovering it troublesome to fill the open posts attributable to monetary uncertainties. Additionally it is because of the town’s small population, and the municipal roles being only part-time. Ms Bouchard was solely contracted to work 16 hours each week — although she mentioned she typically labored extra — and was paid simply $13,500 per year.

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

“I do believe in time with the workforce we have now, we will get Passadumkeag back so as and looking out good, but it would take a bit and goes to be a problem for positive.”

For the time being, the people of Passadumkeag are counting on selectmen and different municipalities to perform basic governmental duties. It contains getting registering their automobiles within the nearby municipality of Howland.