Total Maine city forced to shut after its solely clerk quits over denied trip

The only clerk in a small Maine city 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 about a month and a half ago. 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 nobody to register vehicles, preserve essential information, or talk with the state Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife.

The place of town clerk isn’t the one essential opening in Passadumkeag. The town of 356 folks also lacks a code enforcement officer, an assessor, an animal management officer, and a faculty administration official, in response to The Bangor Every day News.

The town office shut down to in-person guests until further notice, based on a press release despatched out on April 19.

“The Treasurer might be in a few days every week to just accept payments on issues resembling taxes,” the assertion learn. “Please name the office earlier than 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 office to gather tax payments. Still, she is reportedly unable to register vehicles, do building inspections, conduct animal welfare checks, or undertake most of the other tasks that Ms. Bouchard was responsible for.

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

Town officials mentioned that they are discovering it troublesome to fill the open posts because of financial uncertainties. It's also as a result of city’s small population, and the municipal roles being solely part-time. Ms Bouchard was only contracted to work 16 hours each week — although she mentioned she typically labored extra — and was paid simply $13,500 per yr.

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

“I do consider in time with the group we have, we will get Passadumkeag back in order and searching good, but it is going to take a bit and is going to be a problem for certain.”

For the time being, the people of Passadumkeag are counting on selectmen and different municipalities to carry out fundamental governmental obligations. It includes getting registering their vehicles in the nearby municipality of Howland.