Whole Maine town pressured to close after its solely clerk quits over denied vacation

The single 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 few 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 vehicles, keep crucial records, or talk with the state Division of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife.

The place 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 control officer, and a faculty administration official, in line with The Bangor Daily Information.

The city office shut all the way down to in-person guests until additional discover, according to a statement despatched out on April 19.

“The Treasurer will be in a couple of days a week to accept payments on issues corresponding to taxes,” the statement read. “Please call the workplace earlier than heading out to do any business here as there are not any designated hours of operation now.”

Treasurer Barbara Boyer has apparently been coming into the office to collect tax payments. Still, she is reportedly unable to register autos, do constructing inspections, conduct animal welfare checks, or undertake many of the different tasks that Ms. Bouchard was liable for.

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

City officials stated that they're discovering it tough to fill the open posts due to monetary uncertainties. Additionally it is due to the city’s small inhabitants, and the municipal roles being solely part-time. Ms Bouchard was only contracted to work 16 hours every week — though she mentioned she typically labored extra — and was paid simply $13,500 per year.

“We have been left with a large number from years of neglect and are doing as a lot as we will to get our city back in order,” first selectman Brad McKechnie mentioned.

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

In the meanwhile, the individuals of Passadumkeag are relying on selectmen and different municipalities to carry out fundamental governmental responsibilities. It contains getting registering their cars in the nearby municipality of Howland.