Complete Maine town pressured to close after its only clerk quits over denied trip

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

Christen Bouchard was the town clerk in Passadumkeag, Maine, since 2020. She requested a two-week vacation about a month and a half ago. Her plea was denied by the board of selectmen. They claimed that nobody was available to step in for her.

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

The place of town clerk isn’t the one vital opening in Passadumkeag. The town of 356 people additionally lacks a code enforcement officer, an assessor, an animal control officer, and a college administration official, in response to The Bangor Day by day News.

The town workplace shut right down to in-person guests till further notice, in line with an announcement despatched out on April 19.

“The Treasurer will be in a couple of days every week to accept payments on things reminiscent of taxes,” the statement learn. “Please call the office before 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 workplace to collect tax funds. Nonetheless, she is reportedly unable to register automobiles, do constructing inspections, conduct animal welfare checks, or undertake many of the other tasks that Ms. Bouchard was accountable for.

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

Town officers mentioned that they are finding it tough to fill the open posts as a result of financial uncertainties. It's also because of the city’s small inhabitants, and the municipal roles being only part-time. Ms Bouchard was only contracted to work 16 hours each week — although she stated she usually labored 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 are able to to get our town back so as,” first selectman Brad McKechnie stated.

“I do imagine in time with the team we have, we are going to get Passadumkeag back in order and searching good, however it should take a bit and is going to be a challenge for sure.”

In the meanwhile, the folks of Passadumkeag are counting on selectmen and different municipalities to carry out fundamental governmental responsibilities. It includes getting registering their automobiles in the close by municipality of Howland.