Whole Maine town forced to shut after its solely clerk quits over denied trip

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

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

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

The position of city clerk isn’t the only vital opening in Passadumkeag. The town of 356 individuals additionally lacks a code enforcement officer, an assessor, an animal control officer, and a college administration official, in response to The Bangor Every day News.

The town office shut right down to in-person guests until further discover, according to an announcement despatched out on April 19.

“The Treasurer can be in a couple of days a week to just accept funds on issues reminiscent of taxes,” the assertion learn. “Please name the workplace earlier than heading out to do any business 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 responsible for.

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

City officers mentioned that they're discovering it difficult to fill the open posts resulting from monetary uncertainties. It is also due to the town’s small population, and the municipal roles being only part-time. Ms Bouchard was only contracted to work 16 hours each week — although she said she often worked 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 can to get our town again in order,” first selectman Brad McKechnie stated.

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

In the intervening time, the folks of Passadumkeag are counting on selectmen and different municipalities to carry out fundamental governmental tasks. It contains getting registering their automobiles in the nearby municipality of Howland.