Whole Maine city pressured to shut after its solely 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 vacation a couple of month and a half ago. Her plea was denied by the board of selectmen. They claimed that nobody was out there to step in for her.

She left on April 7. The city has had nobody to register vehicles, preserve essential information, or communicate with the state Division of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife.

The position of city clerk isn’t the one essential opening in Passadumkeag. The city of 356 people also lacks a code enforcement officer, an assessor, an animal management officer, and a school administration official, in keeping with The Bangor Each day News.

The town workplace shut down to in-person guests till further notice, in line with a press release sent out on April 19.

“The Treasurer will likely be in a couple of days a week to simply accept funds on issues such as taxes,” the statement read. “Please name the office before heading out to do any enterprise right here as there are not any designated hours of operation now.”

Treasurer Barbara Boyer has apparently been coming into the workplace to collect tax payments. Still, she is reportedly unable to register vehicles, do building inspections, conduct animal welfare checks, or undertake most of the different tasks that Ms. Bouchard was responsible for.

It’s unclear when the city will be able to fill the vacant positions and reopen for business. In March, town residents rejected a finances article meant to fund city operations after city officers failed to adequately clarify the reasoning for a proposed wage enhance. The funds article additionally didn't embrace funding for a code enforcement officer, a necessity underneath Maine legislation.

City officials said that they're finding it troublesome to fill the open posts on account of monetary uncertainties. It's also as a result of town’s small population, and the municipal roles being solely part-time. Ms Bouchard was solely contracted to work 16 hours every week — though she stated she often labored more — and was paid simply $13,500 per year.

“We've got been left with a large number from years of neglect and are doing as much as we can to get our city back so as,” first selectman Brad McKechnie said.

“I do consider in time with the team we have, we will get Passadumkeag again in order and looking good, however it will take a bit and goes to be a challenge for sure.”

In the interim, the folks of Passadumkeag are counting on selectmen and other municipalities to carry out elementary governmental obligations. It includes getting registering their cars within the close by municipality of Howland.