Whole Maine town forced to shut after its solely clerk quits over denied vacation

The one clerk in a small Maine town resigned after the board of selectmen denied her vacation request.

Christen Bouchard was the town clerk in Passadumkeag, Maine, since 2020. She requested a two-week trip a few 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 no one to register automobiles, hold essential information, or communicate with the state Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife.

The position of city clerk isn’t the one necessary opening in Passadumkeag. The city of 356 individuals additionally lacks a code enforcement officer, an assessor, an animal control officer, and a faculty administration official, in response to The Bangor Daily Information.

The town workplace shut right down to in-person visitors till further discover, in response to a statement sent out on April 19.

“The Treasurer will likely be in a few days per week to accept funds on things equivalent to taxes,” the statement read. “Please call the workplace before heading out to do any enterprise right here as there are not any designated hours of operation now.”

Treasurer Barbara Boyer has apparently been coming into the workplace to collect tax funds. Nonetheless, she is reportedly unable to register vehicles, do constructing inspections, conduct animal welfare checks, or undertake many of the other tasks that Ms. Bouchard was chargeable for.

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

Town officers stated that they are discovering it troublesome to fill the open posts on account of financial uncertainties. It is usually as a result of town’s small population, and the municipal roles being solely part-time. Ms Bouchard was only contracted to work 16 hours each week — although she mentioned she often labored more — and was paid just $13,500 per year.

“We've been left with a multitude from years of neglect and are doing as a lot as we are able to to get our city back so as,” first selectman Brad McKechnie stated.

“I do imagine in time with the team we now have, we will get Passadumkeag back in order and looking out good, but it should take a bit and is going to be a problem for certain.”

In the meanwhile, the people of Passadumkeag are counting on selectmen and other municipalities to perform basic governmental duties. It contains getting registering their automobiles in the nearby municipality of Howland.