Whole Maine city compelled to shut after its solely clerk quits over denied trip

The only 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 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 town has had no one to register vehicles, hold crucial information, or communicate with the state Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife.

The position of town clerk isn’t the only necessary opening in Passadumkeag. The town of 356 folks also lacks a code enforcement officer, an assessor, an animal management officer, and a school administration official, based on The Bangor Daily News.

The town office shut all the way down to in-person guests till further discover, in accordance with a press release despatched out on April 19.

“The Treasurer shall be in a few days every week to accept payments on things resembling taxes,” the statement learn. “Please call the workplace earlier than heading out to do any enterprise here as there are not any 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 constructing inspections, conduct animal welfare checks, or undertake most of the other duties that Ms. Bouchard was liable 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 finances article meant to fund town operations after city officials failed to adequately clarify the reasoning for a proposed salary improve. The finances article additionally did not embody funding for a code enforcement officer, a necessity below Maine law.

Town officials stated that they are finding it troublesome to fill the open posts because of financial uncertainties. It is also because of the city’s small inhabitants, and the municipal roles being only part-time. Ms Bouchard was solely contracted to work 16 hours every week — although she said she often labored extra — and was paid simply $13,500 per yr.

“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 again in order,” first selectman Brad McKechnie mentioned.

“I do consider in time with the group we now have, we'll get Passadumkeag again so as and looking out good, but it'll take a bit and goes to be a problem for certain.”

In the intervening time, the people of Passadumkeag are relying on selectmen and different municipalities to perform fundamental governmental tasks. It consists of getting registering their cars within the close by municipality of Howland.