Total Maine city forced to close after its solely clerk quits over denied vacation

The only 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 vacation about a 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 vehicles, keep crucial records, or communicate with the state Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife.

The position of town clerk isn’t the one essential opening in Passadumkeag. The town of 356 individuals additionally lacks a code enforcement officer, an assessor, an animal management officer, and a college administration official, in line with The Bangor Day by day News.

The city office shut all the way down to in-person visitors until additional discover, based on a press release despatched out on April 19.

“The Treasurer can be in a couple of days a week to simply accept funds on things equivalent to taxes,” the statement read. “Please name the office earlier than heading out to do any enterprise right here as there are no designated hours of operation now.”

Treasurer Barbara Boyer has apparently been coming into the workplace to gather tax payments. Still, she is reportedly unable to register automobiles, do constructing inspections, conduct animal welfare checks, or undertake most of the other tasks that Ms. Bouchard was responsible for.

It’s unclear when the city will have the ability 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 did not adequately explain the reasoning for a proposed salary improve. The finances article additionally didn't include funding for a code enforcement officer, a necessity beneath Maine legislation.

City officers said that they are discovering it troublesome to fill the open posts because of financial uncertainties. It's also because of the city’s small population, and the municipal roles being solely part-time. Ms Bouchard was only contracted to work 16 hours every week — though she stated she often labored more — and was paid just $13,500 per 12 months.

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

“I do believe in time with the crew we now have, we will get Passadumkeag back in order and looking good, but it is going to take a bit and is going to be a challenge for sure.”

In the meanwhile, the folks of Passadumkeag are counting on selectmen and other municipalities to perform basic governmental duties. It contains getting registering their automobiles in the nearby municipality of Howland.