Total Maine city pressured to close after its solely clerk quits over denied vacation

The single clerk in a small Maine city resigned after the board of selectmen denied her trip request.

Christen Bouchard was the town clerk in Passadumkeag, Maine, since 2020. She requested a two-week vacation a couple of month and a half ago. Her plea was denied by the board of selectmen. They claimed that no one was obtainable to step in for her.

She left on April 7. The town has had nobody to register vehicles, keep essential information, or talk with the state Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife.

The place of city clerk isn’t the only necessary opening in Passadumkeag. The town of 356 people additionally lacks a code enforcement officer, an assessor, an animal management officer, and a school administration official, based on The Bangor Daily News.

The city office shut right down to in-person guests till further notice, in keeping with an announcement despatched out on April 19.

“The Treasurer will likely be in a couple of days a week to simply accept funds on things akin to taxes,” the statement read. “Please name the workplace before heading out to do any business right here as there aren't any 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 automobiles, do constructing inspections, conduct animal welfare checks, or undertake most of the other tasks that Ms. Bouchard was answerable for.

It’s unclear when the city will be capable 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 failed to adequately explain the reasoning for a proposed wage increase. The budget article additionally did not embody funding for a code enforcement officer, a necessity underneath Maine legislation.

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

“We have now been left with a mess from years of neglect and are doing as much as we are able to to get our city again so as,” first selectman Brad McKechnie said.

“I do consider in time with the workforce we have, we will get Passadumkeag back in order and looking good, however it's going to take a bit and goes to be a problem for sure.”

In the meanwhile, the individuals of Passadumkeag are counting on selectmen and different municipalities to carry out fundamental governmental tasks. It includes getting registering their vehicles in the nearby municipality of Howland.