Some time in the last couple of years the City of Liberty implemented one of the strategies many are predicting will continue to be a popular trend around the country in the future, but more recently they reversed the plan. The City of Liberty lengthening their work hours on Monday thru Thursday in order to close at noon on Friday was both progressive and conservative (if that is possible). It seemed to have been saving money and increasing employees’ job satisfaction.
Around the country leaders are considering ways to shut off air conditioners and lights and save taxpayer money while still offering the same services. Schools and cities and both private and public enterprises across the country are considering and sometimes implementing what the City of Liberty was doing before they changed back to their old schedule. The new strategy being used around the country not only has proved to save money, it also had a great appeal to city workers, school teachers, and others that might consider the two and a half day weekend as part of the trade-off for not being as paid as much as some other jobs.
I am not looking to blame anyone, but I have heard the change was made because of one lone complaint. I would just like the leaders who make these decisions to know that many of us adjusted to the convenience of the longer hours Monday through Thursday and we liked that people in this community who worked for the city seemed to enjoy the new schedule. I would like them to know it is highly likely there is a silent majority who would prefer the city to be open four and half days and save taxpayers money versus staying open Friday afternoon for a few people who refuse to use the telephone or the mail.
Even though I respect anyone’s right to advocate the hours that best fits their personal schedule or their personal preferences, I believe most of us are willing to work within the boundaries of what is practical and efficient. If people knew leadership would set policy because of a single complaint or a handful of complaints rather than setting reasonable and responsible policies, the city library and other places could end up opening much much later for all of the people who don’t want to adjust to the current hours. And one enterprise after another could be yo-yoing their hours to please this person or that group.
I commend the City of Liberty leaders for setting a schedule that balanced the taxpayers’ role as the payer of the bills and the taxpayers’ role as consumer of services and I respectfully ask you to reconsider and go back to the four and half day work week with extended hours Monday through Thursday. If you take a scientific survey and I am in the minority, I will gladly applaud that decision just as I applauded the one I am advocating now. But I believe this community was adjusting to minor inconveniences and we were supportive of your innovation.
Sincerely,
Richard Pegues
23 comments:
Just how much energy savings is available when they still get work a 40 hour week? They work an extra hour on the four full days, to offset the four hours they get off on Friday. Still a 40 hour week. And the room temp still has to be brought back up to normal Monday morning. I doubt there is much energy savings at all. There are many things they could do to save the taxpayers money, the old work schedule isn't one of them.
How many have a regular need to be at City Hall anyway (excluding those who feel they must drive from place to place to pay their bill in person)?
If the extended Mon - Thurs workdays with the shorter Friday work schedule saved much money, you can bet for-profit businesses would all be doing it, but they are not. You can bet that government entities would love it though!
Most businesses can't do it.If there is money to be made, most businesees would not shut down for an afternoon even though they could save money on energy. Government offices are not makingmoney however. And all over the country they are choosing to work earlier in the morning and later in the evening and shutting down a whole day or an afternoon to save money. It is not really a debatable matter.
The first comment has some questionable logic but nevertheless it makes me think the city might should work two extra hours a day Monday thru Thursday and closing on Friday. That schedule would save even more money than the one they were using.
Who complained? Why react to any one or any group? these are tough times and we should give the city council a standing ovation when they show initiative and save money.
Stupid article. Stupid man. Stupid to work for the city.
You can tell someone doesn't worry about how much their city bill is. The dollars flow the most through the meter from 11 AM until 4 PM and eliminating one day a week and four days a month in all cities building could save an estimated 10% or more. Considering there is no reduction in servicesand most employees like the schedule,what is the downside?
I could care less about Pegues, the city of Liberty, and what they are doing across the country. Keep your opinions to yourself. This website exists to cause trouble. Let the hired help do the job we hired them to do and SHUT THE HELL UP!
CITY EMPLOYEES AND SCHOOL TEACHERS ARE UNDERPAID AND THIS SCHEDULE MAY MAKE U FOR THE LACK OF RAISES THEY HAVE EXPERIENCED.
Now the all knowing, all seeing Liberty Dispatch is going to tell us how to run our cities? NOT!
Why is Mike Little being given the consideration, decency and privacy he has not given you while he has tried to destroy your life. All while he builds a nice new home with all kinds of money he has fleeced from his slush funds.
I heard it was a city big wig.
Why not just work forty straight hours and shut er down? Seriously, some idiot would say that wouldn't save energy and money. Four or four and a half days is a good balance of saving and service hours. Liberty is not a trailblazer in this but they were smart to notice the proven benefits otehrs have realized. Too bad somebody disagreed and somebody listene to them.
One thing I liked that has been done while Carl Pickett has been Mayor - undone........
I agree with Richard,any effort to hold down costs and taxes is much appreciated. I also agree with Liberty Dispatch when they have congratulated county officials for finding common sense ways of saving money.
When the government reduces its scope, it saves money. That is not necessarily so for private business. The problemis that a private business is wise to close at any time they are not doing anything to benefit their goals - government rarely considers such a thing.
A 4 day week makes more sense. I was shocked when our city did this and shocked when they undid it. Some big shot must have strolled up and been embarassed by pulling on the locked doors of the city hall on a Friday afternoon.
Schools would be wise to consider plans to save electicity and to save bus expenses by going to a four day week. But they somebody that thinks he us better than the rest of us may not have time to consider any such change.
The County's Road maintenance workers have already gone to a four day week, a few years ago. It semms to be working fine for them. They work 10 hrs. a day and of on Fri,Sat & Sun.
The rich Democrats will say it doesn't save enough money to worry about it. They never worry about saving money. The big savings will ultimately be in keeping employees and not having to train new people. More people will be willing to work at the city because of the long weekend.
nope, every single one of the democraps, at every level of government, will eye that savings, and spend it, over and over again.
That little savings will be multiplied into debt and excess spending, to several times its original amount.
they were better off, just sticking to the original budget amounts; rather than trying a little savings- to backfire, BIG TIME!
Why are you giving Mike Little the mercy has isnt capable of giving you?
well.... get your buns over to Cleveland. We've got stacks of "good city decisions" that need reversing:
1. Chamber in the civic center
2. City judge railroading kids
3. red light cameras
4. fire funds stolen
5. electric utility monopoly
6. clerk becomes city manager
7. clerk becomes chamber ceo
8. non profit trains 11 year old
9. 11 year old's freebies run hookers out of business
10. plywood mill closed
11. 1000+ criminal records 'given' to school kids
12. school lays off 6 dozen, but keeps serial child abusers/admin's
13. recall cmte gets methodist minister recalled
14. Barnett puppet team takes over city
15. church block votes & runs city
16. museum sticks taxpayers with bill to enshrine corrupt Barnett family, sweat shop mills, and duhh-Nesa
17. chamber becomes illegal taxing entity
18 taxpayers stuck with 7 monthly bills of the chamber
oh, that's only mildly corrupt. Try D.C., unions, NYC, or Chicago.
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