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Council approves pilot summer hours and routine finance measures; adopts hiring-review practice
Summary
The North Branford Town Council approved a month-long pilot to shift town-hall hours beginning Aug. 3, cleared several finance motions and adopted a practice for reviewing department-head candidates before offers are finalized. Council moved to executive session to discuss privileged attorney communications at the end of the meeting.
The North Branford Town Council on July 14 approved multiple administrative measures aimed at adjusting public access and tightening hiring review practices.
A pilot to shift summer town-hall hours was approved for Aug. 3–Sept. 4. Under the pilot, two hours will be shifted to Monday and Tuesday evenings so town hall would be open 08:30–17:30 on those days while other weekdays would have reduced daytime hours. The town manager framed the change as a short-term experiment to improve service to residents who work outside normal business hours and to provide staff flexible scheduling; the council discussed publicity strategies and union considerations before passing the motion by voice vote.
The council also adopted a banking resolution authorizing the town manager, Dr. Scott Nickel, to serve as a signatory on town documents, and approved a group of end-of-year appropriation transfers recommended by the town manager and finance director. Each motion was seconded and carried by voice vote as recorded in the meeting minutes.
On the hiring front, the council formalized a practice for department-head appointments: when a department-head vacancy occurs the town manager will present one or more top candidates to the council for review before extending an offer. Proponents said the practice restores prior-year norms that allow council input while opponents cautioned about timing and charter authority; councilors agreed the practice should not slow hiring unnecessarily. The motion passed by voice vote.
The meeting adjourned to executive session under Connecticut General Statutes §1-200(6) to discuss privileged written communication from the town attorney.
Votes at a glance - Town Hall summer-hours pilot (Aug. 3–Sept. 4): motion moved by Councilor Rose, seconded by Councilor Mace; outcome: approved by voice vote. - Banking resolution to authorize town manager (Dr. Scott Nickel) as signatory: motion moved and seconded; outcome: approved by voice vote. - Appropriation transfers (end-of-year package): motion moved and seconded; outcome: approved by voice vote. - Department-head hiring practice (present candidates for council review before offers): motion moved and seconded; outcome: approved by voice vote.
Next steps: The town manager will publicize the summer-hours pilot and return results to council in September; the town manager and department heads will present candidate(s) for future department-head vacancies as the new practice is implemented.
