Total Maine city pressured 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 city clerk in Passadumkeag, Maine, since 2020. She requested a two-week trip a few month and a half in the past. Her plea was denied by the board of selectmen. They claimed that no one was accessible to step in for her.

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

The place of city clerk isn’t the one vital opening in Passadumkeag. The city 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 Every day Information.

The city workplace shut right down to in-person visitors until further notice, according to an announcement sent out on April 19.

“The Treasurer will likely be in a few days a week to just accept payments on things such as taxes,” the statement read. “Please call the workplace 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 office to gather tax funds. Nonetheless, she is reportedly unable to register automobiles, do building inspections, conduct animal welfare checks, or undertake lots of the different tasks that Ms. Bouchard was chargeable for.

It’s unclear when the town will be able to fill the vacant positions and reopen for business. In March, city residents rejected a finances article meant to fund town operations after city officers failed to adequately clarify the reasoning for a proposed wage enhance. The funds article additionally did not embrace funding for a code enforcement officer, a necessity under Maine legislation.

City officials stated that they are finding it tough to fill the open posts resulting from monetary uncertainties. Additionally it is as a result of city’s small inhabitants, and the municipal roles being solely part-time. Ms Bouchard was only contracted to work 16 hours every week — although she said she usually labored more — and was paid simply $13,500 per year.

“We've got been left with a mess from years of neglect and are doing as a lot as we can to get our town back in order,” first selectman Brad McKechnie stated.

“I do consider in time with the crew we have now, we will get Passadumkeag back so as and looking good, but it's going to take a bit and is going to be a problem for certain.”

In the meanwhile, the folks of Passadumkeag are relying on selectmen and different municipalities to carry out fundamental governmental obligations. It contains getting registering their cars within the close by municipality of Howland.