Complete Maine city pressured to shut after its only clerk quits over denied trip

The single 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 about a 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 city has had nobody to register automobiles, preserve crucial information, or communicate with the state Division of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife.

The place of city clerk isn’t the one important opening in Passadumkeag. The city of 356 folks additionally lacks a code enforcement officer, an assessor, an animal management officer, and a college administration official, based on The Bangor Day by day News.

The town workplace shut all the way down to in-person visitors till additional discover, in line with an announcement despatched out on April 19.

“The Treasurer might be in a couple of days a week to simply accept payments on things resembling taxes,” the assertion learn. “Please name the workplace before heading out to do any business right here as there are no designated hours of operation now.”

Treasurer Barbara Boyer has apparently been coming into the office to collect tax payments. Still, she is reportedly unable to register automobiles, do constructing inspections, conduct animal welfare checks, or undertake many of the other duties that Ms. Bouchard was chargeable for.

It’s unclear when the town will be capable of fill the vacant positions and reopen for business. In March, town residents rejected a funds article meant to fund city operations after city officers didn't adequately explain the reasoning for a proposed salary enhance. The finances article also did not embrace funding for a code enforcement officer, a necessity beneath Maine regulation.

City officials mentioned that they're discovering it difficult to fill the open posts as a consequence of monetary uncertainties. It's also due to the city’s small inhabitants, and the municipal roles being solely part-time. Ms Bouchard was solely contracted to work 16 hours each week — although she stated she usually labored extra — and was paid simply $13,500 per year.

“Now we have been left with a large number from years of neglect and are doing as a lot as we can to get our town again in order,” first selectman Brad McKechnie mentioned.

“I do consider in time with the workforce we have now, we'll get Passadumkeag again so as and searching good, but it's going to take a bit and goes to be a challenge for certain.”

For the time being, the people of Passadumkeag are relying on selectmen and other municipalities to perform fundamental governmental obligations. It consists of getting registering their cars within the nearby municipality of Howland.