Complete Maine town pressured to close after its solely clerk quits over denied vacation

The only 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 trip a few month and a half ago. Her plea was denied by the board of selectmen. They claimed that nobody was out there to step in for her.

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

The place of city clerk isn’t the one vital 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, based on The Bangor Daily Information.

The city office shut down to in-person visitors till additional notice, based on a press release sent out on April 19.

“The Treasurer will be in a few days every week to just accept payments on issues comparable to taxes,” the assertion read. “Please call the workplace 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 office to collect tax funds. Nonetheless, she is reportedly unable to register autos, do constructing inspections, conduct animal welfare checks, or undertake many of the other tasks that Ms. Bouchard was chargeable for.

It’s unclear when the city will be capable of fill the vacant positions and reopen for business. In March, city residents rejected a price range article meant to fund town operations after town officials did not adequately explain the reasoning for a proposed salary improve. The budget article additionally did not include funding for a code enforcement officer, a necessity beneath Maine regulation.

City officers stated that they're discovering it difficult to fill the open posts as a consequence of monetary uncertainties. It is also as a result of town’s small inhabitants, and the municipal roles being solely part-time. Ms Bouchard was only contracted to work 16 hours every week — although she mentioned she often labored more — and was paid just $13,500 per year.

“We've got been left with a mess from years of neglect and are doing as a lot as we will to get our town again in order,” first selectman Brad McKechnie said.

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

In the intervening time, the folks of Passadumkeag are counting on selectmen and other municipalities to carry out basic governmental responsibilities. It includes getting registering their automobiles in the nearby municipality of Howland.