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Woodbury weighs four-day, reduced-hour workweek proposals; board asks for staff feedback and resident input
Summary
The Town Working Hours Union presented proposals for a four-day, 32-hour week and a four-and-a-half-day schedule; the board expressed concern about reduced public-service hours, requested departmental feedback and proposed surveys or town-hall sessions before any pilot.
WOODBURY, Conn. — The Woodbury Board of Selectmen discussed a proposal from the Town Working Hours Union to change municipal hours, but did not take action, instead asking department heads to report back and urging public engagement before any pilot.
Union proposals presented included a four-day, 32-hour week (Monday–Thursday, 8 a.m.–4:30 p.m.) and a four-and-a-half-day option (Monday–Thursday, 8 a.m.–4 p.m.; Friday, 8 a.m.–noon). First Selectman Paul Zulpa said he was concerned about reducing public service hours and employee pay, and the board emphasized the need to maintain service levels.
Board discussion noted that four-and-a-half-day schedules are fairly common among nearby municipalities (approximately 40–42% per the discussion), and referenced a 2008 four-day workweek pilot in Woodbury that was abandoned due to low public engagement and lack of energy-cost savings. Members said certain departments (library, senior center, Parks & Recreation) might need tailored schedules or exemptions and recommended baseline metrics to evaluate any pilot, including resident satisfaction and service turnaround times.
Next steps: Department heads will gather staff feedback and the First Selectman will collect examples from neighboring towns; the board asked staff to consider public engagement methods (surveys or town hall) and to define performance metrics prior to recommending any pilot.
