Complete Maine city compelled to shut after its only clerk quits over denied vacation

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 about a 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 city has had nobody to register vehicles, hold essential data, or talk with the state Division of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife.

The place of city clerk isn’t the only important opening in Passadumkeag. The town of 356 people also lacks a code enforcement officer, an assessor, an animal management officer, and a faculty administration official, in response to The Bangor Each day News.

The city workplace shut down to in-person visitors until further notice, in accordance with an announcement despatched out on April 19.

“The Treasurer will probably be in a few days per week to just accept payments on things corresponding to taxes,” the assertion read. “Please name the workplace earlier than heading out to do any enterprise right here as there are no designated hours of operation now.”

Treasurer Barbara Boyer has apparently been coming into the office to gather tax funds. Nonetheless, she is reportedly unable to register automobiles, do building inspections, conduct animal welfare checks, or undertake most of the other duties that Ms. Bouchard was chargeable for.

It’s unclear when the town will have the ability to fill the vacant positions and reopen for enterprise. In March, town residents rejected a funds article meant to fund town operations after town officials did not adequately explain the reasoning for a proposed salary improve. The price range article also didn't embody funding for a code enforcement officer, a necessity below Maine regulation.

Town officials stated that they are discovering it difficult to fill the open posts resulting from monetary uncertainties. It is also due to the city’s small population, and the municipal roles being solely part-time. Ms Bouchard was only contracted to work 16 hours each week — though she said she often labored extra — and was paid simply $13,500 per 12 months.

“Now we have been left with a mess from years of neglect and are doing as much as we will to get our town back so as,” first selectman Brad McKechnie stated.

“I do believe in time with the staff we've, we will get Passadumkeag back in order and searching good, however it should take a bit and goes to be a challenge for certain.”

In the meanwhile, the folks of Passadumkeag are counting on selectmen and other municipalities to carry out basic governmental responsibilities. It includes getting registering their cars in the close by municipality of Howland.