By Wayne E. Rivet

Staff Writer

Starting July 1, Bridgton will join a growing list of Maine municipalities opting to use a four-day work week.

The town office will be open to the public from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Currently, the office is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Office staff will work until 5:30 p.m., reaching the 40-hour mark. The change affects full-time, non-union employees (10 hourly employees and 10 salaried employees).

Town Manager Robert Peabody recommended the change after reviewing the latest employee satisfaction survey (conducted in November) which workers highly rated work schedule and life balance as top priorities.

Peabody also researched the number of Maine towns that have switched to a four-day work week, and found 21 close its offices on Fridays — with the exception of South Berwick, which closes its office on Monday. Neighboring Naples and Fryeburg have also gone to the four-day work week. Naples offers office hours from 9 a.m. to noon on the first and last Saturdays of the month until Columbus Day.

“Early research seems to affirm there is a positive correlation between short work weeks and improved worker productivity,” according to a Paychex Study. “The Henley School reported 64% of businesses saw increases in employee productivity and overall job satisfaction; 70% of employees felt less stressed while on the job; and 62% of employees took fewer days off.”

The plan includes some variations:

• The Rec Department will remain open 5 days per week, using staggered shifts to cover necessary tasks and oversight during the week. The Rec Director (Gary Colello) will be off on Fridays, while the Deputy Rec Director (Leslie Hayes) will be off on Mondays.

• The Public Service Director (David Madsen) will continue to follow the Public Works schedule with reduced daily hours for the winter (7.5 hours per day, 5 days per week) and summer transition to a 4-day week at 9.5 hours per day with Friday’s off.

Peabody noted some department heads, such as the Fire and Police chiefs, are on call 24/7, and if a problem occurs on a Friday, they will be on the job.

Select Board member Ken Murphy supported the initiative, noting where he works (a grocery store), “it’s tough to find great employees,” and if the proposed schedule helps Bridgton retain its municipal staff, he is for it.

Select Board member Bob McHatton was against the idea, feeling the town office has two purposes — one to do town business with other agencies, and two, to serve the public — taxpayers and tourists that “need to do business with the town.”

“I don’t believe in a 4-day work week,” he said. Later, he added, “My opinion has nothing to do with the performances of the employees. We have a great staff.”

Board Chair Carmen Lone’s main concern is people having access to do town business, be it register a vehicle or pay their taxes or license fees. Lone sees the earlier opening of the office could help those who work outside of Bridgton. Today, more business can be done online, she added.

Resident Lega Medcalf wondered if the town might consider offering later hours, such as noon to 8 p.m., which could help those who do work out of town.

Town Clerk Laurie Chadbourne pointed out that Saturday hours were tried, as well as keeping the office open later on Select Board meeting nights (since some office staff attend those proceedings). In both cases, turnout was low. Ultimately, those hours were eliminated.

When Lone asked Chadbourne how office staff felt about the 4-day work week, she responded, “It is supported enthusiastically by the staff.”

“I am willing to give it a shot. If it doesn’t work out, we can go back,” Lone said. “We have an excellent crew and I’d like to give it a shot to see if it works for them and the citizens.”

The board approved the measure 4-1 (McHatton against).

In other news:

• The Select Board unanimously voted to use “biological controls” to rid Pondicherry Park of Emerald Ash Borers. The Maine Forest Service and Loon Echo Land Trust will oversee the process.

“Go get them,” Lone said.

• Under board comments, Lone noted she attended her first Bridgton Fire Department Awards Night and left quite impressed.

“The Fire Department is definitely a department we all appreciate but we don’t really understand that whole unit. It’s great to see the camaraderie, and great to see young people receiving awards,” Lone said.

• The Board will hold a workshop session with Community Development Director Tori Hill on June 21 at 5 p.m. to review the Open Space Plan. At that point, the proposed plan will be completed, thus completing the consulting team’s work.