Connell mayor moves to discard meal-waiver form amid state-law concerns over 10-hour workdays

Connell council members spent substantial time discussing a meal-break waiver form that has allowed some city employees to work four 10-hour days without a formal lunch period. The mayor said the waiver was created and circulated without prior council or city-attorney approval and that she plans to discard the form because of liability concerns.

The mayor told the council the waiver was developed as part of the 2025 budget changes that shifted some staff to a four-day schedule (10 hours each day) and that the form cites "Labor and Industries Administrative Policy number 8 on waivers." She said the city attorney advised that employees may waive meal periods in writing but warned that nonexempt employees must not exceed 40 hours a week without overtime and must receive required rest periods; the mayor expressed concern about potential penalties for not ensuring employees receive meal and rest periods.

Council members and some residents urged that the city require half-hour meal breaks for 10-hour shifts and discussed whether city hall should remain open later in the evening or return to a five-day schedule to better serve working residents. One council member said employees had been using two 15-minute breaks as meal time, and staff clarified that those were existing short breaks but that state law requires specific meal periods for 10-hour days.

Marissa, a city staff member, said the waivers had been signed by affected employees and that the form states it is not permanent; the council discussed whether waivers should be annual or revoked. The mayor said she would "rip that form up" and indicated she would bring any revised policy back to the council for review. No formal council action was recorded during the discussion.