Whole Maine town pressured to close after its only clerk quits over denied vacation

The single clerk in a small Maine town 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 in the past. Her plea was denied by the board of selectmen. They claimed that no one was available to step in for her.

She left on April 7. The town has had no one to register vehicles, keep essential records, 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 city of 356 folks also lacks a code enforcement officer, an assessor, an animal control officer, and a school administration official, based on The Bangor Day by day News.

The city office shut all the way down to in-person guests until further notice, in accordance with an announcement sent out on April 19.

“The Treasurer can be in a few days every week to simply accept funds on issues comparable to taxes,” the statement read. “Please name the workplace before 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 workplace to gather tax payments. Nonetheless, she is reportedly unable to register autos, do building inspections, conduct animal welfare checks, or undertake many of the other tasks that Ms. Bouchard was liable 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 city operations after city officers didn't adequately explain the reasoning for a proposed wage increase. The price range article additionally didn't embrace funding for a code enforcement officer, a necessity beneath Maine legislation.

Town officials stated that they're discovering it tough to fill the open posts because of monetary uncertainties. Additionally it is as a result of city’s small inhabitants, and the municipal roles being only part-time. Ms Bouchard was solely contracted to work 16 hours every week — although she said she typically worked extra — and was paid just $13,500 per year.

“We now have been left with a multitude from years of neglect and are doing as a lot as we are able to to get our city again in order,” first selectman Brad McKechnie mentioned.

“I do imagine in time with the workforce we have, we are going to get Passadumkeag again in order and looking out good, however it will take a bit and goes to be a challenge for sure.”

In the interim, the individuals of Passadumkeag are relying on selectmen and different municipalities to carry out basic governmental responsibilities. It consists of getting registering their cars within the close by municipality of Howland.