Complete Maine town 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 trip request.

Christen Bouchard was the city clerk in Passadumkeag, Maine, since 2020. She requested a two-week trip a couple of month and a half in the past. Her plea was denied by the board of selectmen. They claimed that no one was out there to step in for her.

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

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

The town workplace shut all the way down to in-person guests till further discover, based on an announcement sent out on April 19.

“The Treasurer shall be in a few days per week to simply accept payments on things resembling taxes,” the assertion read. “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 gather tax payments. Nonetheless, 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 liable for.

It’s unclear when the town will be capable to fill the vacant positions and reopen for enterprise. In March, city residents rejected a price range article meant to fund town operations after city officials didn't adequately clarify the reasoning for a proposed salary enhance. The finances article additionally did not embody funding for a code enforcement officer, a necessity beneath Maine legislation.

Town officers mentioned that they are discovering it tough to fill the open posts due to monetary uncertainties. Additionally it is because of the city’s small population, and the municipal roles being only part-time. Ms Bouchard was only contracted to work 16 hours each week — though she stated she usually labored more — and was paid just $13,500 per year.

“We have been left with a large number from years of neglect and are doing as much as we will to get our town again so as,” first selectman Brad McKechnie mentioned.

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

In the interim, the people of Passadumkeag are relying on selectmen and other municipalities to carry out elementary governmental tasks. It includes getting registering their vehicles in the close by municipality of Howland.