Total Maine town compelled to shut after its solely clerk quits over denied vacation

The only 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 a few month and a half ago. Her plea was denied by the board of selectmen. They claimed that no one was out there to step in for her.

She left on April 7. The town has had no one to register vehicles, hold crucial information, or talk with the state Division 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 school administration official, in keeping with The Bangor Every day News.

The city office shut down to in-person guests until additional notice, according to a press release despatched out on April 19.

“The Treasurer will be in a few days every week to simply accept payments on issues such as taxes,” the assertion learn. “Please name 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 collect tax funds. Still, she is reportedly unable to register vehicles, do building inspections, conduct animal welfare checks, or undertake many of the other duties that Ms. Bouchard was chargeable for.

It’s unclear when the city will be capable of fill the vacant positions and reopen for enterprise. In March, city residents rejected a budget article meant to fund city operations after city officials did not adequately clarify the reasoning for a proposed salary increase. The finances article additionally did not include funding for a code enforcement officer, a necessity under Maine legislation.

Town officers said that they're discovering it troublesome to fill the open posts as a consequence of monetary uncertainties. It is usually due to the city’s small inhabitants, and the municipal roles being only part-time. Ms Bouchard was only contracted to work 16 hours each week — although she said she often worked extra — and was paid just $13,500 per yr.

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

“I do believe in time with the team we have, we will get Passadumkeag back so as and searching good, but it should take a bit and goes to be a problem for positive.”

In the meanwhile, the individuals of Passadumkeag are relying on selectmen and different municipalities to carry out basic governmental duties. It consists of getting registering their automobiles within the nearby municipality of Howland.