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

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

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

The position of city clerk isn’t the only necessary opening in Passadumkeag. The town of 356 people also lacks a code enforcement officer, an assessor, an animal management officer, and a school administration official, based on The Bangor Daily News.

The city workplace shut all the way down to in-person guests until further discover, in keeping with an announcement sent out on April 19.

“The Treasurer will likely be in a few days every week to simply accept funds on issues reminiscent of taxes,” the statement read. “Please call the workplace earlier than heading out to do any business right here as there aren't any designated hours of operation now.”

Treasurer Barbara Boyer has apparently been coming into the workplace to gather tax payments. Nonetheless, she is reportedly unable to register vehicles, do building inspections, conduct animal welfare checks, or undertake many of the different tasks that Ms. Bouchard was chargeable for.

It’s unclear when the town will be able to fill the vacant positions and reopen for enterprise. In March, city residents rejected a price range article meant to fund city operations after city officials did not adequately clarify the reasoning for a proposed salary enhance. The price range article also did not include funding for a code enforcement officer, a necessity underneath Maine law.

City officers mentioned that they're discovering it difficult to fill the open posts as a consequence of monetary uncertainties. It is also because of the town’s small population, and the municipal roles being solely part-time. Ms Bouchard was only contracted to work 16 hours every week — although she mentioned she typically labored extra — and was paid simply $13,500 per 12 months.

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

“I do imagine in time with the staff we've got, we'll get Passadumkeag again so as and searching good, but it will take a bit and is going to be a problem for certain.”

In the meanwhile, the individuals of Passadumkeag are counting on selectmen and different municipalities to perform elementary governmental responsibilities. It contains getting registering their cars in the nearby municipality of Howland.