Total Maine city pressured to shut after its only clerk quits over denied vacation

The one clerk in a small Maine city resigned after the board of selectmen denied her vacation request.

Christen Bouchard was the city clerk in Passadumkeag, Maine, since 2020. She requested a two-week trip a few month and a half ago. 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 automobiles, hold crucial data, or communicate with the state Division of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife.

The position of city clerk isn’t the one necessary opening in Passadumkeag. The city of 356 people also lacks a code enforcement officer, an assessor, an animal management officer, and a school administration official, in keeping with The Bangor Day by day News.

The town workplace shut right down to in-person guests until additional discover, according to a statement sent out on April 19.

“The Treasurer might be in a couple of days per week to simply accept funds on issues such as taxes,” the statement learn. “Please call the workplace before heading out to do any business here as there are not 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 automobiles, do constructing inspections, conduct animal welfare checks, or undertake many of the different duties that Ms. Bouchard was liable for.

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

Town officers stated that they are discovering it troublesome to fill the open posts due to monetary uncertainties. It is usually 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 — although she stated she usually worked more — and was paid just $13,500 per yr.

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

“I do imagine in time with the crew we now have, we are going to get Passadumkeag again so as and searching good, however it would take a bit and goes to be a problem for certain.”

For the time being, the folks of Passadumkeag are counting on selectmen and other municipalities to carry out elementary governmental duties. It consists of getting registering their vehicles within the close by municipality of Howland.