Entire Maine city compelled to close after its only clerk quits over denied trip

The single clerk in a small Maine city 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 a few month and a half ago. Her plea was denied by the board of selectmen. They claimed that nobody was available 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 Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife.

The place of town clerk isn’t the only essential opening in Passadumkeag. The town of 356 folks additionally lacks a code enforcement officer, an assessor, an animal control officer, and a school administration official, in response to The Bangor Each day News.

The city workplace shut all the way down to in-person guests until additional notice, in response to a press release sent out on April 19.

“The Treasurer shall be in a couple of days per week to just accept funds on things such as taxes,” the statement read. “Please call the office 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 gather tax funds. Nonetheless, she is reportedly unable to register automobiles, do constructing inspections, conduct animal welfare checks, or undertake many of the different duties that Ms. Bouchard was liable for.

It’s unclear when the town will be capable to fill the vacant positions and reopen for enterprise. In March, town residents rejected a finances article meant to fund city operations after city officers didn't adequately explain the reasoning for a proposed salary increase. The finances article also didn't embody funding for a code enforcement officer, a necessity below Maine law.

Town officers mentioned that they're discovering it troublesome to fill the open posts attributable to monetary uncertainties. It is also due to the 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 usually labored more — and was paid simply $13,500 per 12 months.

“We've been left with a multitude from years of neglect and are doing as a lot as we are able to to get our city back in order,” first selectman Brad McKechnie stated.

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

In the interim, the folks of Passadumkeag are counting on selectmen and other municipalities to perform basic governmental tasks. It contains getting registering their vehicles within the nearby municipality of Howland.