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

The single clerk in a small Maine city 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 few month and a half ago. Her plea was denied by the board of selectmen. They claimed that nobody was obtainable to step in for her.

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

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

The city office shut right down to in-person visitors until additional notice, based on a statement sent out on April 19.

“The Treasurer can be in a few days every week to accept payments on things reminiscent of taxes,” the assertion read. “Please call the office before heading out to do any enterprise here as there are no designated hours of operation now.”

Treasurer Barbara Boyer has apparently been coming into the workplace to collect tax payments. Nonetheless, she is reportedly unable to register autos, do constructing inspections, conduct animal welfare checks, or undertake most of the different tasks that Ms. Bouchard was accountable for.

It’s unclear when the town will be able 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 failed to adequately clarify the reasoning for a proposed salary enhance. The funds article additionally did not embody funding for a code enforcement officer, a necessity below Maine law.

City officials stated that they are discovering it tough to fill the open posts because of monetary uncertainties. Additionally it is because of the town’s small inhabitants, and the municipal roles being solely part-time. Ms Bouchard was solely contracted to work 16 hours every week — although she mentioned she often labored more — and was paid just $13,500 per 12 months.

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

“I do believe in time with the team we have now, we are going to get Passadumkeag again in order and looking out good, but it should take a bit and goes to be a problem for positive.”

For the time being, the folks of Passadumkeag are counting on selectmen and different municipalities to carry out basic governmental duties. It consists of getting registering their cars in the nearby municipality of Howland.