By Dawn De Busk

Staff Writer

NAPLES — Starting on June 1, the Naples Town Office will switch to a four-day work week — joining many municipalities in the area that have already done this.

Naples will continue to be open to the public two Saturdays a month from 9 a.m. to noon.

Town Clerk Michelle Thibodeau came up with a proposal for a Monday through Thursday schedule, with the town hall window staying open a few hours later one day out of the week. As the discussion took place, those hours morphed so that the late night was Thursday.

The Naples Board of Selectmen voted, 4-1, to change the hours, which will be effective on June 1: Monday, 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Tuesday and Wednesday, 7:30 a.m.  to 4 p.m.; Thursday, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Also, open the first and last Saturday, 9 to noon until Columbus Day.

As part of the motion, which was suggested by Selectman Ted Shane, the town clerk would check after Columbus Day weekend to see how the schedule is going, particularly the bi-monthly Saturday openings.

Chairman Jim Grattelo voted in opposition. He said since Naples is a tourist town, the town hall should be open for the summer residents who can only spend weekends in Naples.

On Monday night, the topic of changing the town office hours was moved toward the beginning of the agenda since staff from the clerk’s office were present. 

“The primary reason [for the proposed change] is employee intention. Employees are looking for a life-work balance. The employees seem to be happier about having a three-day weekend,” according to Naples Town Manager John Hawley.

Thibodeau stepped up to the microphone and spoke to the board.

“Through networking, we are hearing a lot of municipalities are going to 4-day work week,” Thibodeau said.

Some of those towns are: Otisfield, Denmark, New Gloucester, Raymond, Fryeburg, and Sebago.

Thibodeau explained to the board that the schedule would address summer residents’ needs by being open every other Saturday. She also pointed out how easy Online registrations have become for busy people.  

“I heard the board had some questions about summer residents. Those Saturdays we would keep open, and that would be helpful to them,” she said.

“Most registrations can be done Online. Anyone who is a Maine resident and buys a boat or vehicle gets a 14-day dealer plate, which gives them two weeks to get it registered,” she said, adding, “Any new snowmobiles or boats can be done by out-of-staters Online.”

She explained the importance of the late evening once a week.

“The typical work day hours, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. isn’t always feasible for people to get here. To allow residents and non-residents get to town hall, we would be open until 7 p.m.,” she said. 

A discussion commenced about whether it should be Monday through Thursday or Tuesday through Friday.

The consideration for being open Friday came up after Grattelo’s comments. 

“My biggest concern is that we are a seasonal town and two weekends every month, we are going to be closed Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Closing that Friday, I struggle with that,”

Dump stickers are something that people have to pick up in person from the town hall.

“If we are going to do this, people have to be able to get their dump stickers and coupons without standing in line,” Grattelo said.

The dump stickers weren’t addressed but people did talk about Monday or Friday was preferable as part of the open schedule.

Several people said Monday is a busier time at the town office than Friday is. 

Sue Fleck, who was at the meeting representing the planning board, said Monday is errand day for many people. That is a good time for the town office to be open, she said.

“Monday is the day you get your stuff done. By the time, Friday rolls around you have petered out and won’t do it until Monday anyway,” Fleck said.

According to Code Enforcement Officer Kate Matthews, “For my office, Monday is the busiest day. Fridays we don’t have a lot of people. Contractors work over the weekend. First thing Monday, they come into the office. Friday is when people don’t contact us as much.”

Matthews said she favored being open on Mondays.

Thibodeau talked about what the staff could do every other Saturday, that would make up for being closed on Friday.

“On Saturdays, we process permits for people to pick up. If not, they would be waiting for a building permit until Monday. We are there to process and issue those permits,” she said.

Fleck offered up the concept of the town hall being open slightly earlier on Monday to capture the people who

Sue Fleck:

“If the window is open at 7 a.m., that person can be to work by 9 a.m. if they have a 2-hour drive. The early morning opening will capture those people,” she said, adding, “Who wouldn’t want to spend an extra night at camp because you need to go to the town office on Monday morning?”