Summer hours for Excelsior employees are continuing into the winter months.

The City Council decided last week to extend a trial of four-day work weeks, closing City Hall on Fridays for another six months.

At the end of May, the city started to explore the new schedule, shifting from an 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday schedule to being open Monday through Thursday with extended hours from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

The four city employees say the extra hours help make City Hall more accessible to residents because residents can stop in before or after work. It also saves the city about $130 a month in cleaning costs.

"The real advantage is serving our constituents longer during the day," Mayor Nick Ruehl said.

The trial period would've ended Friday, but the council's unanimous decision extends it until March 1. Council members will decide then whether to institute the four-day weeks permanently.