Entire Maine town pressured 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 vacation request.

Christen Bouchard was the city 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 nobody was obtainable to step in for her.

She left on April 7. The town has had no one to register autos, keep essential information, or talk with the state Division of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife.

The place of city clerk isn’t the one important opening in Passadumkeag. The town of 356 folks also lacks a code enforcement officer, an assessor, an animal control officer, and a college administration official, in keeping with The Bangor Day by day Information.

The city workplace shut all the way down to in-person guests till further discover, in keeping with a press release sent out on April 19.

“The Treasurer shall be in a few days a week to just accept funds on issues similar to taxes,” the assertion read. “Please name the office before heading out to do any enterprise here as there are no designated hours of operation now.”

Treasurer Barbara Boyer has apparently been coming into the workplace to gather tax funds. Nonetheless, she is reportedly unable to register automobiles, do constructing inspections, conduct animal welfare checks, or undertake most of the other tasks that Ms. Bouchard was answerable for.

It’s unclear when the city will be able to fill the vacant positions and reopen for business. In March, city residents rejected a budget article meant to fund city operations after town officers did not adequately explain the reasoning for a proposed salary improve. The funds article additionally did not include funding for a code enforcement officer, a necessity under Maine regulation.

Town officials mentioned that they're discovering it difficult to fill the open posts attributable to financial uncertainties. It's 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 every week — though she said she usually worked extra — and was paid simply $13,500 per yr.

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

“I do imagine in time with the team we have, we will get Passadumkeag back in order and searching good, however it should take a bit and is going to be a problem for certain.”

In the meanwhile, the folks of Passadumkeag are counting on selectmen and different municipalities to carry out elementary governmental responsibilities. It includes getting registering their cars within the nearby municipality of Howland.