BENTON — Following the resignation of a deputy clerk who was responsible for vehicle and boat registration, Benton residents will temporarily be unable to register in person until a replacement is hired. 

Select Board members discussed the situation during a virtual meeting Wednesday, clarifying that all other regular services are still available.  

In the meantime, residents can also register vehicles online, and register vehicles and boats in person at the Fairfield Town Office, located at 19 Lawrence Ave. in Fairfield.  

“Fairfield is going to do our registration for both motor vehicles and boats until we designate otherwise,” said Select Board member Robin Cyr at the Wednesday meeting. “We do have a small agreement with them to continue in that manner, until we tell them we no longer need those services.”

The town is considering candidates for two positions: a part-time deputy clerk/counter clerk who would assist the town clerk, and a full-time deputy clerk/counter clerk who would serve as the town’s Inland Fisheries & Wildlife agent as well as its Maine Bureau of Motor Vehicles agent. 

The previous employee in the role resigned, according to Cyr. 

The Select Board met Wednesday in a special meeting to discuss any updates to the hiring situation. The board offered the position to someone last week, but that candidate turned down the offer. 

“We need to get business back to normal here,” said board member Doug Dixon. 

Part of the difficulty, Cyr said, is finding someone who has the right qualifications to be a Bureau of Motor Vehicles agent. “It’s greatly impacted by the requirements that are needed by the state,” Cyr said. 

The board will discuss any updates on the issue during its next meeting, scheduled for July 12.