Total 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 no one to register vehicles, keep crucial information, or communicate with the state Division of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife.

The position of town clerk isn’t the one important opening in Passadumkeag. The city of 356 people also lacks a code enforcement officer, an assessor, an animal management officer, and a faculty administration official, in line with The Bangor Every day Information.

The city workplace shut down to in-person visitors until further discover, in keeping with a press release despatched out on April 19.

“The Treasurer will probably be in a few days a week to just accept payments on things similar to taxes,” the assertion read. “Please name the workplace earlier than heading out to do any business here as there aren't 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 autos, do building inspections, conduct animal welfare checks, or undertake lots of the different tasks that Ms. Bouchard was accountable for.

It’s unclear when the city will have the ability to fill the vacant positions and reopen for business. In March, town residents rejected a funds article meant to fund town operations after city officers didn't adequately clarify the reasoning for a proposed wage improve. The funds article additionally did not embody funding for a code enforcement officer, a necessity underneath Maine law.

City officers stated that they are finding it difficult to fill the open posts on account of financial uncertainties. Additionally it is because of the town’s small population, and the municipal roles being solely part-time. Ms Bouchard was solely contracted to work 16 hours each week — though she stated she usually labored extra — and was paid simply $13,500 per 12 months.

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

“I do imagine in time with the workforce we've got, we are going to get Passadumkeag back so as and looking good, but it's going to take a bit and is going to be a challenge for certain.”

In the interim, the people of Passadumkeag are counting on selectmen and other municipalities to carry out basic governmental duties. It contains getting registering their automobiles within the nearby municipality of Howland.