Whole Maine city forced to close after its solely clerk quits over denied trip

The only clerk in a small Maine city resigned after the board of selectmen denied her trip request.

Christen Bouchard was the town 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 accessible to step in for her.

She left on April 7. The town has had no one to register automobiles, maintain crucial data, or talk with the state Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife.

The place of city clerk isn’t the only important opening in Passadumkeag. The city of 356 people also lacks a code enforcement officer, an assessor, an animal control officer, and a school administration official, in keeping with The Bangor Daily Information.

The city workplace shut right down to in-person guests till further notice, in keeping with a statement despatched out on April 19.

“The Treasurer might be in a few days every week to accept funds on things reminiscent of taxes,” the statement read. “Please call the workplace earlier than heading out to do any enterprise here as there aren't any designated hours of operation now.”

Treasurer Barbara Boyer has apparently been coming into the office to gather tax payments. Nonetheless, she is reportedly unable to register vehicles, do building inspections, conduct animal welfare checks, or undertake many of the different tasks that Ms. Bouchard was answerable for.

It’s unclear when the city will have the ability to fill the vacant positions and reopen for enterprise. In March, city residents rejected a funds article meant to fund town operations after town officials did not adequately clarify the reasoning for a proposed salary increase. The funds article additionally didn't embrace funding for a code enforcement officer, a necessity beneath Maine legislation.

Town officials said that they are finding it tough to fill the open posts as a consequence of monetary uncertainties. It is usually because of the city’s small inhabitants, and the municipal roles being only part-time. Ms Bouchard was only contracted to work 16 hours every week — though she mentioned she typically labored more — and was paid just $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 are able to to get our city back so as,” first selectman Brad McKechnie mentioned.

“I do imagine in time with the group now we have, we are going to get Passadumkeag back so as and searching good, but it'll take a bit and goes to be a problem for certain.”

In the meanwhile, the individuals of Passadumkeag are relying on selectmen and different municipalities to carry out elementary governmental tasks. It contains getting registering their vehicles within the nearby municipality of Howland.