Whole Maine town pressured to shut after its solely clerk quits over denied trip

The only clerk in a small Maine town 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 trip 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 city has had no one to register vehicles, maintain essential information, or communicate with the state Division 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, in keeping with The Bangor Each day Information.

The city workplace shut all the way down to in-person guests until additional notice, in keeping with an announcement despatched out on April 19.

“The Treasurer will be in a few days per week to just accept funds on things corresponding to taxes,” the statement read. “Please name the office earlier than 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 collect tax funds. Still, she is reportedly unable to register autos, do building inspections, conduct animal welfare checks, or undertake lots of the different tasks that Ms. Bouchard was answerable for.

It’s unclear when the town will be capable to fill the vacant positions and reopen for enterprise. In March, town residents rejected a budget article meant to fund city operations after town officers did not adequately explain the reasoning for a proposed wage increase. The price range article additionally did not include funding for a code enforcement officer, a necessity below Maine law.

Town officers mentioned that they're finding it difficult to fill the open posts attributable to financial uncertainties. It is usually because of the city’s small population, and the municipal roles being solely part-time. Ms Bouchard was only contracted to work 16 hours each week — though she mentioned she usually labored more — and was paid simply $13,500 per 12 months.

“We've got been left with a multitude from years of neglect and are doing as a lot as we are able to to get our city again so as,” first selectman Brad McKechnie stated.

“I do consider in time with the team we have, we'll get Passadumkeag back in order and looking good, however it can take a bit and is going to be a problem for certain.”

In the intervening time, the people of Passadumkeag are relying on selectmen and different municipalities to carry out elementary governmental tasks. It contains getting registering their automobiles in the nearby municipality of Howland.