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

The only clerk in a small Maine town 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 in the past. 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 town has had nobody to register automobiles, keep essential records, or communicate with the state Division of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife.

The position of town clerk isn’t the one important opening in Passadumkeag. The city of 356 folks also lacks a code enforcement officer, an assessor, an animal management officer, and a school administration official, in keeping with The Bangor Daily News.

The town office shut down to in-person visitors until additional notice, in response to a press release despatched out on April 19.

“The Treasurer will be in a few days every week to just accept payments on issues equivalent to taxes,” the statement learn. “Please call the office before heading out to do any enterprise here as there are no designated hours of operation now.”

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

It’s unclear when the city will be able to fill the vacant positions and reopen for enterprise. In March, town residents rejected a budget article meant to fund town operations after city officials didn't adequately clarify the reasoning for a proposed wage improve. The price range article additionally did not embody funding for a code enforcement officer, a necessity underneath Maine law.

City officials mentioned that they are discovering it troublesome to fill the open posts as a consequence of financial uncertainties. It is also because of the town’s small population, and the municipal roles being solely part-time. Ms Bouchard was only contracted to work 16 hours each week — though she mentioned she typically worked more — and was paid simply $13,500 per year.

“We now have been left with a multitude from years of neglect and are doing as much as we will to get our town back in order,” first selectman Brad McKechnie mentioned.

“I do believe in time with the workforce we have now, we are going to get Passadumkeag back in order and looking out good, however it's going to take a bit and is going to be a problem for positive.”

In the meanwhile, the individuals of Passadumkeag are counting on selectmen and different municipalities to perform elementary governmental responsibilities. It contains getting registering their cars within the close by municipality of Howland.