Complete Maine town compelled to shut after its solely 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 vacation 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, keep essential records, or communicate with the state Division of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife.

The place of town 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, based on The Bangor Day by day Information.

The city office shut right down to in-person guests until further notice, based on a press release sent out on April 19.

“The Treasurer will be in a couple of days a week to just accept payments on issues reminiscent of taxes,” the assertion read. “Please call the office before heading out to do any enterprise right here as there aren't any designated hours of operation now.”

Treasurer Barbara Boyer has apparently been coming into the office to collect tax payments. Still, she is reportedly unable to register vehicles, do constructing inspections, conduct animal welfare checks, or undertake many of the other tasks that Ms. Bouchard was accountable for.

It’s unclear when the town will be capable of fill the vacant positions and reopen for enterprise. In March, city residents rejected a price range article meant to fund city operations after town officers did not adequately explain the reasoning for a proposed salary enhance. The budget article additionally didn't include funding for a code enforcement officer, a necessity below Maine regulation.

City officers said that they're finding it troublesome to fill the open posts attributable to financial uncertainties. Additionally it is due to the town’s small population, and the municipal roles being solely part-time. Ms Bouchard was only contracted to work 16 hours each week — although she mentioned she often labored more — and was paid simply $13,500 per 12 months.

“Now we have been left with a multitude 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 stated.

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

For the time being, the individuals of Passadumkeag are counting on selectmen and different municipalities to perform fundamental governmental obligations. It includes getting registering their cars in the close by municipality of Howland.