Bayport weighs a permanent four-day week

Summer's end is fast approaching, but at Bayport City Hall, summer hours may be here to stay.

Leaders of this east suburban river town are contemplating going to a four-day week schedule with 10-hour shifts to cut costs and make it easier for residents to visit City Hall.

The building would open earlier and stay open later Monday through Thursday, just as it has all summer. But instead of working for four hours on Fridays, Bayport city employees would have Fridays off.

"We're going to give it serious consideration," Mike McGuire, Bayport's city administrator, said of the longer days-shorter week idea. He plans to submit a recommendation at the Oct. 6 City Council meeting. The council recently extended summer hours through the end of October.

Bayport, population 3,000, joins a growing list of communities across the country that have either adopted or are considering moving to a four-day schedule.

In August, Utah began a one-year test run of the "Working 4 Utah Initiative." Under the plan, state administrative offices are closed on Fridays and government service hours are extended the rest of the week.

Next month, the city of St. Francis will start its experiment with a four-day work week with 10-hour shifts for most city employees. Supporters have predicted the shorter week will cut energy costs and improve service to citizens.

Other municipalities that have opted for a four-day workweek include Birmingham, Ala.; Avondale, Ariz.; Coconut Creek, Fla., and Walworth County in Wisconsin, according to the National League of Cities.

The League of Minnesota Cities does not keep track of how many cities operate on a four-day week schedule, but league spokeswoman Stephanie Weiss said the group has detected interest in the idea. "We've heard that a number of cities have looked at this," she said.

Employees more productive

Employees of the city of Albertville have been operating on a four-day, 10-hour schedule since about mid-July. Tina Lannes is one of them. "It can be long days, especially in the beginning," she said. "But now when you get used to it, it's good. I do think it's a good idea."

The Albertville City Council recently decided to extend the trial period for the four-day workweek through Nov. 1. By then, there will be an estimate of how much money they city is saving, said Lannes, the city's finance director.

Albertville Mayor Ron Klecker said he believes the 10-hour days have made employees more productive and city services more convenient for residents. "Now a lot of them can handle [city business] on their way to work or on their way home, so they don't have to make a special trip to City Hall," he said.

Bayport officials say rising fuel and utility costs were key factors in their decision to offer employees a shorter week.

McGuire said so far, he's only heard from about a half dozen people about the summer schedule. "It seemed to go very well. People liked it, us being open a little later," he said. "It's not the same Bayport that it was 20 or 30 years ago. At that point, maybe everyone worked for Andersen Windows and could run down [to City Hall] during lunch hour to conduct their business. To have that extra half-hour on each side gives them the ability to get in and out."

Allie Shah • 651-298-1550