Total Maine town pressured to close after its only clerk quits over denied trip

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 few month and a half ago. Her plea was denied by the board of selectmen. They claimed that no one was available to step in for her.

She left on April 7. The town has had nobody to register autos, preserve crucial records, or communicate with the state Division of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife.

The position of town clerk isn’t the one essential opening in Passadumkeag. The city of 356 people additionally lacks a code enforcement officer, an assessor, an animal management officer, and a faculty administration official, in response to The Bangor Every day Information.

The town workplace shut right down to in-person guests until additional notice, in accordance with a press release sent out on April 19.

“The Treasurer might be in a couple of days a week to simply accept funds on issues reminiscent of taxes,” the statement learn. “Please call the workplace before 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 payments. Nonetheless, she is reportedly unable to register vehicles, do building inspections, conduct animal welfare checks, or undertake lots of the different tasks that Ms. Bouchard was responsible for.

It’s unclear when the city will be capable to fill the vacant positions and reopen for enterprise. In March, city residents rejected a finances article meant to fund city operations after city officers did not adequately explain the reasoning for a proposed wage increase. The budget article additionally did not embody funding for a code enforcement officer, a necessity under Maine law.

Town officials stated that they are discovering it troublesome to fill the open posts because of financial uncertainties. It's also as a result of city’s small inhabitants, and the municipal roles being only part-time. Ms Bouchard was only contracted to work 16 hours every week — although she said she usually labored extra — and was paid just $13,500 per yr.

“We've been left with a multitude 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 imagine in time with the workforce we now have, we will get Passadumkeag back in order and searching good, however it is going to take a bit and goes to be a challenge for certain.”

In the interim, the individuals of Passadumkeag are relying on selectmen and different municipalities to perform elementary governmental tasks. It consists of getting registering their vehicles in the nearby municipality of Howland.