Saco continues shortened Friday hours at City Hall

Saco City Hall has now permanently changed its schedule and will continue to close at 1 p.m. on Friday.

This is a schedule that was introduced in a pilot program earlier this year.

In February, the City of Saco implemented a 120-day trial run of a new schedule that shortened the hours of operation at City Hall by nearly one half-day a week. The hours changed from 7:30 to 4 p.m. five days a week to 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Friday.

The new schedule was a “no cost” effort to promote employee retention, said City Administrator John Bohenko in January.  Under the new schedule, full-time City Hall staff continue to work 37.5-hours a week with no change in compensation or benefits, due to shorter lunches.

Other municipalities, like Biddeford and Scarborough, have in recent years reduced their municipal building hours to four days a week in order to attract and retain staff.

“I don’t think we’re ready for that. I think people really want to see us open at least five days right now,” said Bohenko at Monday night’s City Council meeting.

Bohenko said at Monday night’s meeting that the schedule is now permanent. He said he has received positive feedback from staff regarding the change. Community members who completed surveys while doing business at City Hall also responded favorably, he said.

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