As far as I know, module-authors is generally intended for advice and discussion on CPAN modules (naming, etc.).

Administrative issues should most certainly go to the modules at perl dot org mailing list instead. I suppose some of the PAUSE admins also read module-authors, though. The original poster has contacted the PAUSE admins by now.

The usual way of dealing with such requests is that we demand some proof that some effort has been put into contacting the original author by various means. That certainly includes trying mail, google, and possibly the module's mailing list and may include a perlmonks or use.perl.org post. Once some time has passed without a reaction from the module author, we hand over co-maintenance permissions. This procedure is to make sure no CPAN authors are rid of their modules just because they went on a longer vacation or are moving house or somesuch.

Cheers,
Steffen