Entire Maine town forced to shut after its solely clerk quits over denied vacation

The one clerk in a small Maine city 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 ago. 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 town has had nobody to register vehicles, hold crucial records, or communicate with the state Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife.

The place of town clerk isn’t the only essential opening in Passadumkeag. The city of 356 people additionally lacks a code enforcement officer, an assessor, an animal control officer, and a college administration official, based on The Bangor Daily Information.

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

“The Treasurer will be in a couple of days every week to simply accept payments on things such as taxes,” the statement learn. “Please name the office before heading out to do any enterprise 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 funds. Still, she is reportedly unable to register autos, do building inspections, conduct animal welfare checks, or undertake most of the different tasks that Ms. Bouchard was chargeable for.

It’s unclear when the city will be able to fill the vacant positions and reopen for enterprise. In March, city residents rejected a funds article meant to fund town operations after town officers failed to adequately clarify the reasoning for a proposed wage enhance. The budget article also didn't include funding for a code enforcement officer, a necessity underneath Maine regulation.

City officials said that they're finding it difficult to fill the open posts due to monetary uncertainties. It is usually because of the town’s small inhabitants, and the municipal roles being solely part-time. Ms Bouchard was solely contracted to work 16 hours every week — although she mentioned she typically labored more — and was paid just $13,500 per yr.

“We have now been left with a multitude from years of neglect and are doing as a lot as we will to get our town back so as,” first selectman Brad McKechnie said.

“I do believe in time with the group we now have, we will get Passadumkeag back in order and looking good, however it will take a bit and is going to be a challenge for sure.”

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