Whole Maine city forced to close after its only clerk quits over denied vacation

The one clerk in a small Maine town 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 in the past. Her plea was denied by the board of selectmen. They claimed that nobody was obtainable to step in for her.

She left on April 7. The city has had no one to register vehicles, maintain crucial information, or talk with the state Division of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife.

The place of city clerk isn’t the one essential opening in Passadumkeag. The city of 356 folks additionally lacks a code enforcement officer, an assessor, an animal management officer, and a faculty administration official, in line with The Bangor Every day News.

The town office shut all the way down to in-person visitors till further notice, in keeping with a statement despatched out on April 19.

“The Treasurer shall be in a couple of days a week to accept funds on issues such as taxes,” the assertion learn. “Please call the office earlier than heading out to do any business here as there are no designated hours of operation now.”

Treasurer Barbara Boyer has apparently been coming into the workplace to gather tax funds. Nonetheless, she is reportedly unable to register vehicles, do constructing inspections, conduct animal welfare checks, or undertake most of the different tasks that Ms. Bouchard was answerable for.

It’s unclear when the city 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 failed to adequately explain the reasoning for a proposed wage increase. The funds article also did not embrace funding for a code enforcement officer, a necessity below Maine legislation.

Town officials stated that they're finding it difficult to fill the open posts as a result of monetary uncertainties. Additionally it is due to the city’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 typically worked more — 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 town back so as,” first selectman Brad McKechnie stated.

“I do imagine in time with the group we've, we will get Passadumkeag back in order and looking good, but it will take a bit and is going to be a challenge for positive.”

For the time being, the individuals of Passadumkeag are relying on selectmen and other municipalities to carry out elementary governmental obligations. It contains getting registering their automobiles within the close by municipality of Howland.