Entire Maine city pressured to shut after its only 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 city clerk in Passadumkeag, Maine, since 2020. She requested a two-week trip about a 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 city has had nobody to register vehicles, maintain essential information, or talk with the state Division of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife.

The place of city clerk isn’t the only important opening in Passadumkeag. The town of 356 individuals additionally lacks a code enforcement officer, an assessor, an animal control officer, and a school administration official, in response to The Bangor Day by day News.

The city workplace shut all the way down to in-person visitors until further discover, in line with a press release despatched out on April 19.

“The Treasurer will likely be in a few days per week to accept payments on things such as taxes,” the assertion learn. “Please name the office earlier than 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 workplace to collect tax payments. Still, she is reportedly unable to register autos, do constructing inspections, conduct animal welfare checks, or undertake lots of the different duties that Ms. Bouchard was answerable for.

It’s unclear when the city will be able to fill the vacant positions and reopen for business. In March, city residents rejected a price range article meant to fund city operations after city officers failed to adequately explain the reasoning for a proposed wage enhance. The budget article additionally didn't embrace funding for a code enforcement officer, a necessity below Maine legislation.

Town officials stated that they are finding it troublesome to fill the open posts resulting from monetary uncertainties. It is also as a result of city’s small inhabitants, and the municipal roles being only part-time. Ms Bouchard was solely contracted to work 16 hours each week — though she mentioned she often labored more — and was paid simply $13,500 per 12 months.

“We have been left with a large number from years of neglect and are doing as much as we are able to to get our town back so as,” first selectman Brad McKechnie said.

“I do imagine in time with the group we now have, we will get Passadumkeag again in order and looking good, however it would take a bit and goes to be a problem for sure.”

For the time being, the folks of Passadumkeag are relying on selectmen and other municipalities to perform basic governmental obligations. It contains getting registering their cars within the nearby municipality of Howland.