Commissioners split over 4-day workweek pilot for city staff; manager to pilot with finance and clerk offices

City staff presented a proposed test of a four-day workweek for select departments and City Manager Erwin said he would pilot the arrangement for 90 days in the finance and city-clerk offices, but several commissioners warned against a wider rollout without detailed coverage plans.

Erwin said the city earlier tested a four-day schedule with utility clerks and passport staff by cross-training employees and staggering shifts, and that test "worked" because the city expanded window hours while providing employees a compressed schedule. He said other departments, including parks and recreation and utilities, were still evaluating whether a four-day week would be practical.

"I'm going to be very carefully monitoring the productivity and the efficiency of the staff," Erwin said, asking for the commission's support to try a 90-day pilot for the executive group (finance director and city clerk area).

Commissioner Brian Schroeder and others raised concerns about equity and continuity. Schroeder said directors and small departments may not be able to provide reliable coverage if supervisors and key staff share the same days off. "If something's stuck in a queue and it needs to be approved, how would that necessarily get funneled through?" he asked, noting the city's current systems may not re-route approvals automatically.

Commissioner Lisa Mallozzi said the proposal could create morale benefits but demanded a complete flowchart for each department showing backup coverage before expanding the pilot. Mayor James Curran urged the commission either to let the manager proceed and hold him accountable for results or to block it; several commissioners said they would not consent to a wholesale, city-wide conversion without more analysis.

Erwin said some departments are unsuitable for a compressed schedule (e.g., field crews and public-safety management) and that many salary employees would still be expected to respond to urgent issues when off-duty. He said the pilot would not automatically extend to all departments and that staff would return to the commission with 90-day results and a recommendation on broader implementation.

The discussion produced no formal vote to change citywide policy; the manager said he would proceed with a limited 90-day test and report back.