Town Hall Hours Could Be Changing

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 is suggesting an alternate schedule for this summer, which would then continue for the rest of the year.

According to Lannon, she would like to see Town Hall 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.

Currently, Town Hall is opened from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. throughout the year and over the summer, the hours Monday to Thursday are extended, while Town Hall is closed on Fridays.

 The reason Town Hall has been closed on Fridays in the past has been to save money on energy costs, but according to Lannon that has not necessarily been the case.

“The ultimate driving factor on changing the hours of operation is and should be customer service,” Lannon said. “While the secondary benefit of energy savings is part of the equation, we need to be certain we understand that there is not a significant dollar value realized when closing various municipal buildings.”

According to Lannon, the Energy Management Committee estimated that, when the Town Hall is closed for the nine Fridays over the summer, the town saved a total of $630.

“It is apparent to me that closing the municipal buildings on Fridays does not provide any significant savings to the town.”

Before any change is instituted, Lannon needs to negotiate it first with the Clerks’ union, but the supported a change in Town Hall hours.

“I think it’s worth a try,” said Selectman Thomas Howley. “We’d be giving the customer an option of coming late one day a week. I think we should try it out. We need to try and be as customer-friendly as we can.”