Complete Maine city compelled to shut after its solely clerk quits over denied trip

The one 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 trip about a month and a half in the past. 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 nobody to register autos, maintain crucial data, or talk with the state Division of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife.

The place of city clerk isn’t the only important opening in Passadumkeag. The town of 356 individuals also lacks a code enforcement officer, an assessor, an animal control officer, and a faculty administration official, in accordance with The Bangor Daily Information.

The town office shut down to in-person visitors till further discover, in keeping with an announcement despatched out on April 19.

“The Treasurer will be in a few days per week to accept payments on things equivalent to taxes,” the assertion learn. “Please name the office before 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 workplace to gather tax funds. Nonetheless, she is reportedly unable to register vehicles, do constructing inspections, conduct animal welfare checks, or undertake many of the other tasks that Ms. Bouchard was liable for.

It’s unclear when the town will be able to fill the vacant positions and reopen for enterprise. In March, city residents rejected a funds article meant to fund city operations after town officials did not adequately clarify the reasoning for a proposed wage enhance. The funds article additionally did not include funding for a code enforcement officer, a necessity under Maine law.

City officials said that they're finding it troublesome to fill the open posts because of monetary uncertainties. It is also as a result of city’s small inhabitants, and the municipal roles being solely part-time. Ms Bouchard was solely contracted to work 16 hours each week — though she stated she often labored extra — and was paid just $13,500 per yr.

“We've been left with a large number from years of neglect and are doing as much as we will to get our town again so as,” first selectman Brad McKechnie mentioned.

“I do believe in time with the group now we have, we'll get Passadumkeag again in order and searching good, however it's going to take a bit and goes to be a problem for positive.”

For the time being, the individuals of Passadumkeag are counting on selectmen and different municipalities to carry out basic governmental responsibilities. It includes getting registering their automobiles in the close by municipality of Howland.