Town officials are considering a four-day work week in Town Hall, with offices open Monday through Thursday and open late on Tuesday evening so people who want permits can avoid taking time off from work.
Town Hall
Come summer, these doors might be closed on Fridays.
The idea was was briefly described by Darien Health Director David Knauf at a meeting Wednesday of the town Advisory Board of Health.
Last October, in a candidates debate with First Selectman Jayme Stevenson, challenger Chris Noe brought up the fact that the idea was being considered.
Stevenson confirmed that, although she didn’t confirm that Town Hall would be closed on Fridays. At the time, Stevenson said that town officials were looking into ways that the times Town Hall is open might be changed in order to make it easier for town residents to go there.
- See also: Additional Details on Changes to Town Hall Hours, Four-Day Work Week (Dec. 23)
“So any enhancements that we may or may not make to the Town Hall schedule would have as its highest priority services to our town residents,” she said.
Stevenson did not indicate how close town officials were to deciding on any changes, and didn’t mention the possibility of a four-day work week, which could extend employees’ working hours earlier, later or both on the days when they were working. The idea was also discussed briefly at at least one Board of Selectman meeting.
At the health board meeting, Knauf mentioned some more details, including the trial period and that on Fridays, Town Hall would be closed.
“The town is going to do a trial run, beginning in June,” Knauf said. He said he thought the trial period might run from June through the end of August.
“They’ll see how it works. If the public is OK with it, we’ll keep it. If there’s a problem — and work isn’t being done, or there’s expectations that aren’t being met, we’ll go back to the five-day schedule.”
Andy Matthiesen, a board member, said: “So I can get, say, a dock permit Tuesday evening instead of taking time off from work — which is great.”
Knauf replied, “The idea is that we’d be open, I think, until 7 o’clock on Tuesdays.”