By Nate Leskovic
Times Staff
7/10/08

(previous)
“A lot of people go out of town on Fridays during the summer,” says Fagan, “so a very small number of people were making use of the office.” Employees agree, she says, that the office is not heavily used on Fridays.
Selectmen voted the change at its June 19 meeting. The decision also required the approval of the clerical union.
The change in hours is also in response to e-mails the town has received in recent months from residents saying they “couldn’t make it to town hall during regular business hours,” says Fagan.
Kevin Mearn, town administrator, presented the proposal at a Selectmen meeting in June, says Selectman John Shields. Diane Gore, assistant town treasurer, was also involved in the discussion on cutting costs.
Employees are fine with the change, says Shields. “They don’t mind working extra hours some days if they get Friday off,” he says. Workers will take half hour instead of full hour lunch breaks on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday to keep their hours consistent.
Town hall offices will record the number of visitors during the trial period. “If it’s as successful as we think it will be, we may institute the new schedule for the following months,” says Fagan.
Or, suggested Shields, “at least one day a month can have that added service of having night hours.”