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Select Board approves summer hours pending union side‑letters and ratifies one‑year MOAs
Summary
The board approved summer operating hours (June 22–Aug. 28) pending side‑letter agreements with unions, and ratified one‑year memoranda of agreement with the highway/water and supervisors bargaining units; side letters will ensure unions' protections and may be retroactive to June 22.
The Townsend Select Board on June 16 approved a plan to shift many municipal offices to summer operating hours — generally Monday–Thursday with most offices closed on Fridays from June 22 through Aug. 28 — contingent on side‑letter agreements with union representatives to protect pay and working conditions.
Town staff described the mechanics: most offices would lengthen Monday–Thursday hours so services remain available while allowing some remote or staggered schedules on Fridays. The board instructed the town administrator to secure side‑letters with affected bargaining units and to bring those agreements back for signature; members agreed the side letters should protect union members and could be retroactive to June 22 if approved.
The board also ratified one‑year memoranda of agreement (MOAs) with the highway/water bargaining unit and the supervisors bargaining unit. A board member thanked town staff, union representatives and town counsel for negotiating the agreements and noted broader negotiations will resume in January–February of next year.
The motions passed by roll call. The town administrator said he will present draft side‑letters for board review and will post the approved summer schedule and any finalized agreements on the town website.
