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

The only 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 ago. Her plea was denied by the board of selectmen. They claimed that nobody was available to step in for her.

She left on April 7. The town has had nobody to register vehicles, preserve crucial data, 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 additionally lacks a code enforcement officer, an assessor, an animal control officer, and a college administration official, in accordance with The Bangor Each day Information.

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

“The Treasurer will be in a few days every week to simply accept payments on things similar to taxes,” the assertion read. “Please name the workplace earlier than heading out to do any enterprise right here as there are not any designated hours of operation now.”

Treasurer Barbara Boyer has apparently been coming into the office to gather tax payments. Nonetheless, she is reportedly unable to register vehicles, 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 town will have the ability to fill the vacant positions and reopen for business. In March, city residents rejected a price range article meant to fund town operations after town officers did not adequately clarify the reasoning for a proposed wage improve. The price range article also did not include funding for a code enforcement officer, a necessity below Maine legislation.

City officials stated that they are finding it difficult to fill the open posts as a consequence of financial uncertainties. It is also due to the town’s small inhabitants, and the municipal roles being solely part-time. Ms Bouchard was solely contracted to work 16 hours each week — though she stated she usually labored more — and was paid just $13,500 per yr.

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

“I do imagine in time with the team we now have, we are going to get Passadumkeag back so as and looking good, but it should take a bit and is going to be a challenge for sure.”

In the intervening time, the folks of Passadumkeag are counting on selectmen and other municipalities to carry out fundamental governmental obligations. It consists of getting registering their cars within the close by municipality of Howland.