Everybody at Kings municipal office: stay home

BY KIRK STARRATT

Kings County Register

After several minutes of debate July 2, Kings County council approved a recommendation from its committee of the whole (COTW) regarding the closure of municipal offices for the three-day period between Christmas and New Year’s on a trial basis, with staff to provide notice to all regular customers and a follow-up report to council in early 2009.

Essential services would continue, and staff will have to count the extra time off as vacation days.

Deputy Warden Diana Brothers called for the public to be notified of the closure well in advance, through the municipal website and newspaper ads.

Councillor Wayne Atwater said he thinks the offices would become “a bit of a play pen” if staff wasn’t given the time off around the holidays.

Councillor Janet Newton asked how anyone with the municipality would know if someone tried to drop by to take care of business during the closure. She said she wasn’t in favour of the closure, as last New Year’s Eve day was very busy at the offices.

Councillor Chris Parker said council hasn’t looked at the whole picture yet, so he couldn’t support the motion and Councillor Ted Palmer said an eight-day closure is unacceptable to him.

Councillor Barry Peterson said he doesn’t see anything wrong with the closure, pointing out staff would have to take the three extra days as their own vacation time. Councillor Eric Smith said he would support the motion because the time off at the holidays would be a morale booster for staff.