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Council approves amendment to union agreement to keep one evening town‑hall hour; measure passes 3‑2 after heated debate
Summary
The council approved a memorandum of agreement modifying the collective-bargaining agreement to retain an extended Tuesday evening schedule and shorter Friday hours; opponents argued the pilot data did not justify locking hours into the union contract.
The Smithfield Town Council voted 3–2 to authorize a memorandum of agreement (MOA) that modifies the collective-bargaining agreement between the Town of Smithfield and Local 1217, Laborers’ International Union of North America, to codify an arrangement that keeps town offices open an extended evening on Tuesdays in exchange for an abbreviated Friday schedule.
Opponents said data from a 12-week pilot did not support making the schedule part of the collective-bargaining agreement. A council member who voted against the MOA said, “Out of the 12 weeks of this pilot period, there have been 6 customers in total that have come in for the town clerk services during the Tuesday extended hour period. Seven Tuesdays out of the 12 did not see a single individual come to the clerk's office for services,” and added that customer-usage records for other departments were not provided.
Another opponent warned that putting hours into the collective-bargaining agreement would restrict the town manager’s flexibility to set or change hours to meet future needs: “If we include an amendment to the present collective-bargaining agreement, it will prevent the town manager from setting or changing the hours of operation of the town hall, as best as the needs of the town could change over the course of the year.”
Supporters argued the extended hours benefit residents and employees, and that other towns have implemented similar schedules successfully. One proponent said the schedule improves employee morale and resident access and predicted usage will grow as the program becomes better known. Another council supporter said, “I full steam ahead.”
The council took a recorded roll call for the motion; the motion passed 3–2.
Ending: With the MOA approved, town staff said the schedule will be implemented as agreed and departments will monitor usage; opponents urged continued review and data collection to evaluate long-term need.
