Whole Maine city pressured to close after its only clerk quits over denied vacation

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 vacation a few 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 no one to register automobiles, hold crucial records, or talk with the state Division of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife.

The place of city clerk isn’t the only vital 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, in line with The Bangor Daily Information.

The city workplace shut all the way down to in-person guests until additional discover, in response to a press release despatched out on April 19.

“The Treasurer can be in a couple of days per week to accept payments on things comparable to taxes,” the statement learn. “Please name the workplace earlier than 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 gather tax funds. Still, she is reportedly unable to register vehicles, do building 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 be able to fill the vacant positions and reopen for enterprise. In March, city residents rejected a budget article meant to fund city operations after town officials failed to adequately explain the reasoning for a proposed wage improve. The budget article additionally did not embrace funding for a code enforcement officer, a necessity below Maine legislation.

City officials stated that they're discovering it troublesome to fill the open posts because of financial uncertainties. It is usually due to the town’s small inhabitants, and the municipal roles being solely part-time. Ms Bouchard was solely contracted to work 16 hours every week — though she stated she often labored extra — and was paid just $13,500 per year.

“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 again in order,” first selectman Brad McKechnie said.

“I do believe in time with the crew we've got, we will get Passadumkeag back so as and searching good, but it will take a bit and goes to be a challenge for certain.”

For the time being, the people of Passadumkeag are counting on selectmen and different municipalities to perform fundamental governmental responsibilities. It contains getting registering their automobiles in the close by municipality of Howland.