Biddeford City Hall to close on Fridays

BIDDEFORD — City Hall will soon be closed to the public on Fridays.

The City Council on Tuesday approved a new schedule for City Hall hours that will go into effect on June 27. Under the new schedule, City Hall will retain its current hours from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Wednesday and Thursday, be open from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Monday and Tuesday, and be closed on Friday.

The change had been recommended to the City Council by the personnel committee.

“Offering longer hours for two days out of the week will allow us to meet the needs of community members that prefer to receive in-person service but are limited by City Hall’s current schedule,” said City Manager James Bennett in a written statement. “At the same time, moving to a four-day workweek will help the city to recruit and retain the very best staff to deliver exemplary service to the community in the current competitive job market.”

Residents can pay tax and sewer bills, register vehicles, purchase resident beach permits, and conduct other city business online at any time by visiting www.biddefordmaine.org/onlineservices.

According to a memo from Bennett to the City Council, the city has done research on the changing job market.

“If I was to summarize the employee market place, it would be stated simply. Quality employees’ have almost unlimited opportunities to choose where they would like to be employed,” he said.

The change of hours is a way to make City Hall a more attractive workplace, and will allow extra hours two days a week for people who can’t make it to City Hall between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. City Hall staff will be expected to work at least 36 hours a week ( the hours City Hall is open), with a paid half-hour lunch break each day. City Hall employees who work 36 to 40 hours a week will get paid for 40 hours a week. This new system changes the hourly pay model without changing the total cost to the city, and encourages staff to be more efficient in order to enjoy a 36-hour work week and get paid for 40 hours, said Bennett.

Bennett noted in the memo that during the height of the pandemic, the city operated nearly 100 percent without any face-to-face interaction.

Publisher Liz Gotthelf can be reached at newsdesk@sacobaynews.com.