Whole Maine city forced to close after its only clerk quits over denied vacation

The only 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 couple of month and a half ago. Her plea was denied by the board of selectmen. They claimed that nobody was accessible to step in for her.

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

The position of town clerk isn’t the only necessary opening in Passadumkeag. The town of 356 individuals also lacks a code enforcement officer, an assessor, an animal management officer, and a college administration official, in response to The Bangor Daily News.

The city workplace shut down to in-person visitors till additional notice, based on a statement despatched out on April 19.

“The Treasurer will be in a couple of days every week to accept payments on issues equivalent to taxes,” the assertion learn. “Please name the office before 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 office to gather tax payments. Still, she is reportedly unable to register vehicles, do building inspections, conduct animal welfare checks, or undertake many of the other tasks that Ms. Bouchard was accountable for.

It’s unclear when the city will have the ability to fill the vacant positions and reopen for business. In March, town residents rejected a budget article meant to fund city operations after town officials did not adequately explain the reasoning for a proposed salary increase. The funds article additionally didn't embrace funding for a code enforcement officer, a necessity beneath Maine law.

Town officers mentioned that they are discovering it difficult to fill the open posts attributable to financial uncertainties. It's also because of the city’s small population, and the municipal roles being only part-time. Ms Bouchard was only contracted to work 16 hours every week — although she mentioned she typically labored more — and was paid just $13,500 per year.

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

“I do imagine in time with the team we've got, we'll get Passadumkeag again so as and looking out good, but it should take a bit and goes to be a problem for positive.”

In the meanwhile, the people of Passadumkeag are relying on selectmen and other municipalities to perform elementary governmental obligations. It includes getting registering their automobiles in the nearby municipality of Howland.