Total Maine town forced to close after its solely 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 trip about a month and a half ago. Her plea was denied by the board of selectmen. They claimed that nobody was accessible to step in for her.

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

The position of city clerk isn’t the one essential opening in Passadumkeag. The city of 356 folks additionally lacks a code enforcement officer, an assessor, an animal management officer, and a faculty administration official, in keeping with The Bangor Every day Information.

The town office shut all the way down to in-person guests till further notice, in keeping with an announcement sent out on April 19.

“The Treasurer will probably be in a couple of days a week to just accept funds on things similar to taxes,” the assertion read. “Please call the workplace earlier than heading out to do any enterprise 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 building inspections, conduct animal welfare checks, or undertake lots of the different duties that Ms. Bouchard was accountable for.

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

Town officers stated that they're finding it difficult to fill the open posts as a result of financial uncertainties. It is usually as a result of town’s small population, and the municipal roles being solely part-time. Ms Bouchard was only contracted to work 16 hours each week — though she mentioned she often worked extra — and was paid just $13,500 per yr.

“Now we have been left with a large number from years of neglect and are doing as a lot as we can to get our city again in order,” first selectman Brad McKechnie stated.

“I do imagine in time with the crew we now have, we are going to get Passadumkeag again in order and looking out good, but it'll take a bit and is going to be a problem for positive.”

In the meanwhile, the folks of Passadumkeag are relying on selectmen and other municipalities to carry out basic governmental obligations. It consists of getting registering their automobiles in the nearby municipality of Howland.