Complete Maine city pressured to shut after its solely clerk quits over denied trip

The one 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 about a month and a half in the past. Her plea was denied by the board of selectmen. They claimed that no one was obtainable to step in for her.

She left on April 7. The city has had no one to register automobiles, hold crucial information, or talk with the state Division of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife.

The position of city clerk isn’t the only essential opening in Passadumkeag. The town of 356 individuals also lacks a code enforcement officer, an assessor, an animal management officer, and a school administration official, in accordance with The Bangor Day by day Information.

The town workplace shut right down to in-person guests until additional notice, in keeping with an announcement despatched out on April 19.

“The Treasurer will probably be in a couple of days every week to simply accept payments on issues such as taxes,” the assertion learn. “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 funds. Still, she is reportedly unable to register vehicles, do constructing inspections, conduct animal welfare checks, or undertake most of the other duties that Ms. Bouchard was chargeable for.

It’s unclear when the city will be capable of fill the vacant positions and reopen for enterprise. In March, town residents rejected a finances article meant to fund town operations after town officials did not adequately clarify the reasoning for a proposed wage improve. The budget article also did not include funding for a code enforcement officer, a necessity under Maine law.

City officials mentioned that they are discovering it difficult to fill the open posts resulting from monetary uncertainties. It is usually as a result of town’s small population, and the municipal roles being solely part-time. Ms Bouchard was solely contracted to work 16 hours each week — though she stated she often labored extra — and was paid just $13,500 per 12 months.

“Now 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 so as,” first selectman Brad McKechnie mentioned.

“I do believe in time with the group we have, we'll get Passadumkeag again so as and searching good, but it can take a bit and goes to be a problem for positive.”

In the interim, the people of Passadumkeag are relying on selectmen and other municipalities to perform basic governmental responsibilities. It consists of getting registering their vehicles within the nearby municipality of Howland.