Entire Maine city forced to close after its solely clerk quits over denied vacation

The single 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 couple of 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 autos, preserve 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 additionally lacks a code enforcement officer, an assessor, an animal control officer, and a faculty administration official, in line with The Bangor Day by day Information.

The city workplace shut all the way down to in-person guests until further notice, based on a statement despatched out on April 19.

“The Treasurer will likely be in a few days a week to just accept payments on issues resembling taxes,” the assertion learn. “Please call the office earlier than 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 collect tax funds. 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 responsible 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 finances article meant to fund town operations after town officers didn't adequately explain the reasoning for a proposed wage increase. The budget article also did not embrace funding for a code enforcement officer, a necessity under Maine regulation.

City officers mentioned that they're finding it troublesome to fill the open posts because of monetary uncertainties. Additionally it is as a result of town’s small population, and the municipal roles being only part-time. Ms Bouchard was only contracted to work 16 hours each week — although she mentioned she usually labored extra — and was paid just $13,500 per year.

“We've got been left with a large number from years of neglect and are doing as much as we can to get our city back so as,” first selectman Brad McKechnie stated.

“I do believe in time with the staff we have, we'll get Passadumkeag back so as and looking good, but it's going to take a bit and is going to be a challenge for certain.”

In the meanwhile, the folks of Passadumkeag are counting on selectmen and different municipalities to perform fundamental governmental obligations. It consists of getting registering their automobiles within the nearby municipality of Howland.