Town Manager Notes: No Summer Hours and Senior Tax Break

For the last three years, has been closed on Fridays during the summer months, which include the Fourth of July weekend until Labor Day.

Acting Town Manager Mary Ellen Lannon so that the offices would be open Monday, Wednesday and Thursday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Wednesday from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.; and Friday, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

However, the clerk's union did not support those changes and instead voted to eliminate summer hours and keep Town Hall open Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. throughout the year.

In the past, Town Hall would be opened 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. from Labor Day to the Fourth of July and over the summer, the hours would be extended Monday to Thursday, while Town Hall was closed on Fridays.

Tax Breaks

According to Lannon, several months ago she spoke with theabout the affordability of living in town. Lannon said the council expressed concern that seniors are having a difficult time paying taxes.

In 2009 Hamilton-Wenham established a by-law that, depending on certain factors – your house worth, the number of years you lived in town, if you’re over 65 – residents can get an abatement for a certain amount of their taxes, Lannon said.

“This is an opportunity for folks to live in their homes,” Lannon said. “I think this could be critical if we want to pass overrides in the future.”

Selectman Jim Johnson suggested the board look into something similar.