Whole Maine town pressured to shut 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 no one was accessible to step in for her.

She left on April 7. The city has had no one to register autos, keep crucial 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 individuals additionally lacks a code enforcement officer, an assessor, an animal control officer, and a faculty administration official, in line with The Bangor Every day News.

The town office shut all the way down to in-person guests till additional discover, in keeping with a statement despatched out on April 19.

“The Treasurer will be in a few days every week to simply accept payments on things akin to taxes,” the statement read. “Please name the workplace before heading out to do any business right here as there are not any designated hours of operation now.”

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

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

Town officers stated that they are discovering it difficult to fill the open posts because of monetary uncertainties. It is also as a result of town’s small inhabitants, and the municipal roles being only part-time. Ms Bouchard was only contracted to work 16 hours each week — although she mentioned she usually worked 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 much as we will to get our town again in order,” first selectman Brad McKechnie said.

“I do consider in time with the staff we've, we are going to get Passadumkeag back so as and looking out good, however it would take a bit and is going to be a challenge for sure.”

For the time being, the people of Passadumkeag are counting on selectmen and other municipalities to carry out elementary governmental responsibilities. It consists of getting registering their automobiles within the close by municipality of Howland.