Total Maine town pressured to close after its solely clerk quits over denied trip

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

Christen Bouchard was the town clerk in Passadumkeag, Maine, since 2020. She requested a two-week vacation about a month and a half in the past. Her plea was denied by the board of selectmen. They claimed that no one was obtainable to step in for her.

She left on April 7. The city has had nobody to register automobiles, preserve crucial data, or talk with the state Division of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife.

The position of town clerk isn’t the only important opening in Passadumkeag. The town of 356 folks additionally lacks a code enforcement officer, an assessor, an animal control officer, and a college administration official, in line with The Bangor Every day Information.

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

“The Treasurer might be in a few days a week to simply accept payments on things reminiscent of taxes,” the assertion learn. “Please call the workplace earlier than heading out to do any enterprise here as there are not any designated hours of operation now.”

Treasurer Barbara Boyer has apparently been coming into the office to gather tax funds. Still, 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 chargeable for.

It’s unclear when the town will have the ability to fill the vacant positions and reopen for enterprise. In March, city residents rejected a finances article meant to fund city operations after town officials did not adequately clarify the reasoning for a proposed wage increase. The funds article additionally didn't embrace funding for a code enforcement officer, a necessity underneath Maine legislation.

Town officers stated that they are finding it difficult to fill the open posts as a result of monetary uncertainties. It's also because of the city’s small inhabitants, and the municipal roles being only part-time. Ms Bouchard was solely contracted to work 16 hours every week — although she stated she often worked extra — and was paid simply $13,500 per 12 months.

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

“I do imagine in time with the workforce we have, we are going to get Passadumkeag back so as and looking good, however it would take a bit and goes to be a challenge for positive.”

In the interim, the people of Passadumkeag are counting on selectmen and other municipalities to carry out basic governmental tasks. It consists of getting registering their vehicles in the close by municipality of Howland.