Whole Maine town pressured to shut after its only 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 trip about a month and a half ago. Her plea was denied by the board of selectmen. They claimed that nobody was accessible to step in for her.

She left on April 7. The town has had nobody to register automobiles, maintain crucial records, or talk with the state Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife.

The position of town clerk isn’t the one vital opening in Passadumkeag. The town of 356 folks additionally lacks a code enforcement officer, an assessor, an animal management officer, and a college administration official, according to The Bangor Each day Information.

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

“The Treasurer will likely be in a couple of days a week to accept payments on issues reminiscent of taxes,” the statement learn. “Please name the workplace before 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 collect tax funds. Still, she is reportedly unable to register autos, do building inspections, conduct animal welfare checks, or undertake lots of the other tasks that Ms. Bouchard was accountable for.

It’s unclear when the town will be capable of fill the vacant positions and reopen for enterprise. In March, city residents rejected a budget article meant to fund town operations after city officials didn't adequately clarify the reasoning for a proposed salary increase. The budget article also did not embrace funding for a code enforcement officer, a necessity under Maine law.

Town officials mentioned that they are finding it difficult to fill the open posts on account of financial uncertainties. It's also as a result of town’s small inhabitants, and the municipal roles being only part-time. Ms Bouchard was only contracted to work 16 hours every week — although she mentioned she typically worked more — and was paid simply $13,500 per year.

“We have been left with a mess from years of neglect and are doing as a lot as we can to get our city back so as,” first selectman Brad McKechnie mentioned.

“I do believe in time with the workforce we have now, we are going to get Passadumkeag again so as and looking out good, however it'll take a bit and is going to be a challenge for certain.”

In the intervening time, the individuals of Passadumkeag are relying on selectmen and other municipalities to perform elementary governmental tasks. It consists of getting registering their cars in the close by municipality of Howland.