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

The one 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 vacation a couple of month and a half ago. Her plea was denied by the board of selectmen. They claimed that no one was accessible to step in for her.

She left on April 7. The town has had no one to register vehicles, maintain essential records, or talk 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 people additionally lacks a code enforcement officer, an assessor, an animal management officer, and a faculty administration official, in accordance with The Bangor Daily Information.

The city office shut all the way down to in-person visitors until further discover, in accordance with a statement sent out on April 19.

“The Treasurer can be in a few days every week to simply accept payments on things equivalent to taxes,” the statement read. “Please name the office before heading out to do any business 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 vehicles, do building inspections, conduct animal welfare checks, or undertake most of the different duties that Ms. Bouchard was accountable for.

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

City officials mentioned that they are finding it tough to fill the open posts attributable to financial uncertainties. It is also as a result of city’s small population, and the municipal roles being only part-time. Ms Bouchard was solely contracted to work 16 hours each week — though she mentioned she often worked extra — and was paid simply $13,500 per year.

“We now have been left with a mess from years of neglect and are doing as a lot as we can to get our town back so as,” first selectman Brad McKechnie said.

“I do believe in time with the crew we have now, we'll get Passadumkeag again in order and looking good, but it can take a bit and is going to be a challenge for sure.”

For the time being, the people of Passadumkeag are counting on selectmen and other municipalities to carry out basic governmental tasks. It consists of getting registering their vehicles within the nearby municipality of Howland.