Total Maine town compelled to shut after its only clerk quits over denied trip

The single clerk in a small Maine town resigned after the board of selectmen denied her trip 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 available to step in for her.

She left on April 7. The city has had nobody to register vehicles, maintain crucial data, or communicate with the state Division of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife.

The place of city clerk isn’t the only important opening in Passadumkeag. The town of 356 people also lacks a code enforcement officer, an assessor, an animal control officer, and a school administration official, in keeping with The Bangor Each day News.

The town workplace shut all the way down to in-person guests till further discover, in line with a press release despatched out on April 19.

“The Treasurer can be in a few days a week to just accept payments on things similar to taxes,” the statement learn. “Please call the office earlier than 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 office to gather tax payments. Still, she is reportedly unable to register autos, do building inspections, conduct animal welfare checks, or undertake many of the other duties that Ms. Bouchard was answerable for.

It’s unclear when the city will have the ability 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 didn't adequately explain the reasoning for a proposed wage increase. The budget article additionally did not embody funding for a code enforcement officer, a necessity beneath Maine legislation.

Town officials stated that they are finding it difficult to fill the open posts as a consequence of financial uncertainties. It is also as a result of city’s small inhabitants, and the municipal roles being solely part-time. Ms Bouchard was solely contracted to work 16 hours every week — though she stated she typically labored extra — and was paid simply $13,500 per 12 months.

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

“I do imagine in time with the workforce now we have, we are going to get Passadumkeag again in order and searching good, but it is going to take a bit and goes to be a challenge for certain.”

For the time being, the folks of Passadumkeag are relying on selectmen and different municipalities to perform elementary governmental responsibilities. It includes getting registering their automobiles within the close by municipality of Howland.