Entire Maine city pressured to close after its solely clerk quits over denied trip

The one clerk in a small Maine city 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 trip a few 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 town has had nobody to register vehicles, keep crucial information, or talk with the state Division of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife.

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

The city office shut all the way down to in-person visitors till further notice, according to a statement despatched out on April 19.

“The Treasurer can be in a couple of days per week to just accept payments on things akin to taxes,” the assertion learn. “Please name the office earlier than 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 office to gather tax payments. Still, she is reportedly unable to register vehicles, do building inspections, conduct animal welfare checks, or undertake many of the different tasks that Ms. Bouchard was chargeable 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 price range article meant to fund town operations after town officers failed to adequately clarify the reasoning for a proposed wage enhance. The funds article additionally did not include funding for a code enforcement officer, a necessity below Maine law.

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

“We have been left with a large number from years of neglect and are doing as a lot as we can to get our town back in order,” first selectman Brad McKechnie said.

“I do imagine in time with the crew we have, we will get Passadumkeag again in order and looking good, however it can take a bit and goes to be a challenge for certain.”

For the time being, the individuals of Passadumkeag are relying on selectmen and other municipalities to perform basic governmental duties. It contains getting registering their cars in the close by municipality of Howland.