It looks like Minto’s office staff will be getting a week off between Christmas and New Years Day this year – although two of those will be vacation days.
A report from municipal co-ordinator and deputy-clerk Bill Winegard recommended the office hours and days of work for that period.
Recommendations were that the office be closed from Monday to Friday inclusive and Dec. 27, 28, and 31 be considered as statutory holidays in lieu of Christmas, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day.
Office staff can take Dec. 28 and 29 as vacation days, time-off-in-lieu, or time off without pay unless the duties of the position require the employee to work on those days.
Discussion held by staff centred on the issue of all three statutory holidays falling on weekends this year.
Winegard’s report state, “In order to provide a concentrated break, and to facilitate family get-togethers and travelling, grouping all three statutory holidays into one week would be the greatest benefit to staff.”
Further, the report noted that this time of year is typically a slow period in the municipal office, with few functions or phone calls.
Winegard said many other municipalities have reached that same conclusion and have authorized municipal offices to be closed. Those include: Wellington County, Wellington North, Centre Wellington, Guelph-Eramosa, and Erin. Winegard said the few requests for building permits would be honoured and payroll would still be accomplished.
He said record from last year indicated there were not a whole lot of other requests made during that week.
“My opinion is that we are better having staff take off days then than during other times of the year.”
Deputy-mayor Judy Dirksen asked if telephone calls will be monitored.
Winegard said calls would bounce to voice mail or emergency numbers.
Dirksen said she believes there are still a few important things dealt with at the end of the year – such as taxes.
She said she would feel better if the messages were checked on a regular basis.
Councillor Tammy Reiner said there is an on-call person at Public Works, and that person would be able to tell if a call was an emergency or not.
“Accidents can happen on New Year’s Day when we’re closed. If [staff] are going to be off, let them be off.”
Minto council endorsed the recommendations as presented.
