Complete Maine town forced to shut after its solely clerk quits over denied trip

The only clerk in a small Maine city 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 couple of month and a half in the past. Her plea was denied by the board of selectmen. They claimed that no one was out there to step in for her.

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

The position of town clerk isn’t the one 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, according to The Bangor Each day Information.

The town office shut down to in-person visitors till further notice, in accordance with a press release despatched out on April 19.

“The Treasurer can be in a couple of days per week to simply accept payments on things comparable to taxes,” the statement read. “Please call the office 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 collect tax payments. Nonetheless, she is reportedly unable to register vehicles, do constructing inspections, conduct animal welfare checks, or undertake lots of the other duties that Ms. Bouchard was liable for.

It’s unclear when the town will be capable of fill the vacant positions and reopen for enterprise. In March, town residents rejected a budget article meant to fund town operations after town officials did not adequately explain the reasoning for a proposed wage increase. The price range article also didn't include funding for a code enforcement officer, a necessity underneath Maine law.

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

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

“I do consider in time with the group we've got, we are going to get Passadumkeag back in order and searching good, but it can take a bit and goes to be a challenge for positive.”

In the interim, the people of Passadumkeag are relying on selectmen and different municipalities to perform fundamental governmental tasks. It includes getting registering their automobiles in the close by municipality of Howland.