An experiment with four-day weeks is over for Department of Public Works, with some positive results.
‘Residents in general are very happy with the extended hours,? said Independence Township DPW Director Linda Richardson in her Sept. 1 memo to the board. ‘I feel we are better able to serve the public offering earlier and later appointments, but this trial version was not long enough to see the benefits and savings.?
For the past few months, DPW workers have been on 4-10-hour days a week, instead of the traditional 5-8 hour days. The trial ended after Labor Day, and they are back to five eight-hour days a week.
One resident complained they weren’t open on Friday, but most residents seemed happy to be able to pay their bills after work, as well as longer hours at the recycling center.
However, Treasurer Curt Carson noted the treasurer’s department got plenty of calls from residents on Fridays.
Productivity definitely saw an increase, Richardson said.
‘The sewer crew was able to video and clean 3,000 feet of sanitary in two days versus 1,000 feet per day,? Richardson said. ‘Also the water treatment had less overtime because the longer days allowed them more time in the treatment plants to complete repairs and normal operations.”
Only the main DPW building, out of 39 buildings, was closed on Fridays, limiting savings. However, they saved hundreds of gallons of fuel.
With one day off each week, employees traveled 2,693 miles less a month, which resulted in average savings of 280 gallons and a cost savings of $449.
If they continued with the four day schedule, it would be offered township-wide, according to the AFSCME contract, she noted.
‘If offered township-wide, I could see more savings in energy costs in the buildings closed down, especially this building (town hall),? Richardson said.
Though Trustee Mark Petterson liked the idea, he noted fall brings less sunlight.
‘Daylight is really chewing down fast. It may be better off this winter to go back to the eight hour days that way at least they’re working during daylight,? he said. ‘After Jan. 20, days start brightening up a little bit better, than we can revisit that four-10 schedule.?
Next year, they could try the schedule from March through October, Richardson said.
“That would give us a longer period of time to see the actual benefits,? she said.
Trustee Larry Rosso agreed it would need to be seasonally adjusted.
‘There is more viability if you could do it during the daylight of spring and summer,? he said. ‘I see the savings and in most offices the daylight would not be a factor for most other departments because they work indoors.?
Rosso said he understood why other townships were going in the direction of a four-day schedule.
‘It’s all about money and the savings,? he said.
Trustee Neil Wallace was not convinced the township is ‘saving significant amounts of money.?
‘The studies I read when this popped up, do not indicate we should be able pack significant savings,? he said. ‘When we’ve had such a brief experiment in only one department, I don’t know if we can project that’s going to apply evenly among the whole township.?
Carson said there was some good information.
‘We should definitely look into it further to see how this might help save the township money and help balance the budget,? he said.
Trustee David Lohmeier agreed it should not go township wide.
‘I can’t ever see spreading this like butter across the entire township, I really struggle with that,? he said. ‘I was impressed with some of the savings though.?
Richardson said they are checking into other scheduling ideas to save money.
‘It’s a rough time right now and we’re looking at everything possible,? Wagner said in a later interview.
‘The four days, 10 hours a day was fairly successful, though the board just opted out of that all together,? Wagner said. ‘I thought we possibly could have continued that and we would have had additional savings in that area township wide.?