Whole Maine city forced to close after its solely clerk quits over denied trip

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 few month and a half in the past. Her plea was denied by the board of selectmen. They claimed that nobody was obtainable to step in for her.

She left on April 7. The town has had no one to register automobiles, hold essential information, or communicate with the state Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife.

The position of town clerk isn’t the only necessary opening in Passadumkeag. The city of 356 folks also lacks a code enforcement officer, an assessor, an animal management officer, and a faculty administration official, in keeping with The Bangor Daily Information.

The city workplace shut right down to in-person guests until additional discover, in keeping with a press release despatched out on April 19.

“The Treasurer will likely be in a few days a week to just accept payments on issues such as taxes,” the statement read. “Please name the office earlier than heading out to do any business here as there aren't 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 constructing inspections, conduct animal welfare checks, or undertake many of the different tasks that Ms. Bouchard was answerable for.

It’s unclear when the city will be able to fill the vacant positions and reopen for business. In March, town residents rejected a finances article meant to fund city operations after town officers didn't adequately clarify the reasoning for a proposed wage increase. The budget article additionally didn't embody funding for a code enforcement officer, a necessity beneath Maine law.

City officials said that they are finding it troublesome to fill the open posts as a result of monetary uncertainties. It is usually as a result of city’s small inhabitants, and the municipal roles being solely part-time. Ms Bouchard was only contracted to work 16 hours each week — although she stated she often labored extra — and was paid simply $13,500 per yr.

“We've been left with a multitude from years of neglect and are doing as much as we can to get our city back so as,” first selectman Brad McKechnie said.

“I do consider in time with the team now we have, we are going to get Passadumkeag back in order and searching good, however it should take a bit and is going to be a challenge for sure.”

In the intervening time, the folks of Passadumkeag are counting on selectmen and different municipalities to carry out fundamental governmental obligations. It consists of getting registering their automobiles in the close by municipality of Howland.