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

The only 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 trip a couple of 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 autos, hold essential information, or communicate with the state Division of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife.

The position of town clerk isn’t the one vital opening in Passadumkeag. The town of 356 individuals also lacks a code enforcement officer, an assessor, an animal management officer, and a college administration official, according to The Bangor Each day News.

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

“The Treasurer can be in a few days per week to just accept payments on things similar to taxes,” the statement learn. “Please name the workplace earlier than heading out to do any business 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 autos, do constructing inspections, conduct animal welfare checks, or undertake lots of the other tasks that Ms. Bouchard was liable for.

It’s unclear when the town will have the ability to fill the vacant positions and reopen for business. In March, town residents rejected a finances article meant to fund city operations after city officials did not adequately explain the reasoning for a proposed wage increase. The price range article also did not embody funding for a code enforcement officer, a necessity under Maine regulation.

Town officers said that they're finding it difficult to fill the open posts as a result of financial uncertainties. Additionally it is because of the town’s small population, and the municipal roles being only part-time. Ms Bouchard was only contracted to work 16 hours each week — although she mentioned she typically worked more — and was paid simply $13,500 per year.

“We now have been left with a large number from years of neglect and are doing as much as we can to get our city again so as,” first selectman Brad McKechnie mentioned.

“I do believe in time with the crew now we have, we'll get Passadumkeag again in order and searching good, but it should take a bit and goes to be a challenge for certain.”

In the interim, the folks of Passadumkeag are relying on selectmen and different municipalities to perform fundamental governmental obligations. It consists of getting registering their vehicles within the nearby municipality of Howland.