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

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

Christen Bouchard was the city 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 accessible to step in for her.

She left on April 7. The town has had nobody to register automobiles, hold crucial data, or talk with the state Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife.

The place of city clerk isn’t the one necessary opening in Passadumkeag. The town of 356 folks also lacks a code enforcement officer, an assessor, an animal control officer, and a college administration official, based on The Bangor Day by day Information.

The town office shut all the way down to in-person guests until additional notice, in accordance with a press release despatched out on April 19.

“The Treasurer will likely be in a couple of days every week to just accept payments on things corresponding to taxes,” the statement learn. “Please call the workplace earlier than heading out to do any enterprise here as there are not any designated hours of operation now.”

Treasurer Barbara Boyer has apparently been coming into the office to gather tax funds. Nonetheless, she is reportedly unable to register automobiles, do building inspections, conduct animal welfare checks, or undertake lots of the different duties that Ms. Bouchard was responsible 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 finances article meant to fund town operations after town officials didn't adequately clarify the reasoning for a proposed wage enhance. The funds article additionally did not include funding for a code enforcement officer, a necessity beneath Maine regulation.

Town officers mentioned that they are discovering it difficult to fill the open posts attributable to financial uncertainties. Additionally it is due to the city’s small population, and the municipal roles being solely part-time. Ms Bouchard was only contracted to work 16 hours every week — although she stated she often worked more — and was paid simply $13,500 per yr.

“We have been left with a multitude from years of neglect and are doing as much as we will to get our city back so as,” first selectman Brad McKechnie stated.

“I do consider in time with the workforce now we have, we are going to get Passadumkeag back so as and looking good, however it can take a bit and goes to be a challenge for sure.”

In the interim, the folks of Passadumkeag are relying on selectmen and other municipalities to carry out elementary governmental duties. It consists of getting registering their cars in the close by municipality of Howland.