Washington Township to Reduce Office Hours in Summer Trial

Article Summary: The Washington Township Board of Trustees has approved a plan to reduce public office hours for a trial period this summer, citing less foot traffic and potential cost savings. Effective July 14, the Township Center office will be open three days a week—Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.—and will be closed to the public on Wednesdays and Fridays until the fall.

Township Office Hours Change Key Points:

• The board approved a temporary reduction in office hours, effective from July 14 until September 22.

• The new public hours will be Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

• The change was prompted by a belief that current staffing exceeds public demand during the summer months.

• The board plans to review the effectiveness of the new schedule before fall to decide if further adjustments are needed.

BEECHER – Washington Township residents will have fewer days to conduct in-person business at the Township Center this summer after the board voted to reduce its public office hours in a temporary trial aimed at aligning staffing with resident needs.

During its July 7 meeting, the board unanimously approved a motion to change the office schedule, effective July 14. The office will now be open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays, and will be closed on Wednesdays and Fridays. The “summer hours” will remain in effect until September 22, the first day of fall.

The discussion was initiated by Trustee Tracy Heldt, who recommended the change due to a noticeable decrease in foot traffic. She suggested that a 15- to 18-hour week would be adequate for the summer and proposed a schedule that would keep the office open on days when the Dial-a-Ride service runs and when Catholic Charities uses the building.

Trustee Paul Goldrick agreed, noting that in his multiple visits to the office, he had rarely seen a visitor.

The board debated which days would best serve the public. Trustee Teresa Peterson recommended keeping the office open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays to ensure longer hours were available on Tuesdays in case Catholic Charities had a full schedule. The board ultimately adopted this three-day schedule in its official motion.

Supervisor Mike Stanula expressed concern that the change could place an undue burden on Assessor Pat Peters, whose office is at the center nearly every day. He worried she would be tasked with handling visitors and phone calls on days the main office is closed. Peters, however, noted that the township’s new security camera system would help her identify her own appointments.

As part of the transition, Heldt requested a review of the office job description to ensure it accurately reflects the duties of the position, which include payroll, check processing, and reporting.

Clerk Joe Burgess was tasked with notifying the public of the changes. The township will update its website, Google Maps information, social media pages, and the road sign. A notice will also be placed in the Vedette, and the automated message on the phone system will be changed to reflect the new hours.

The board plans to review the trial schedule before September 22 to determine its effectiveness and decide if the hours should be adjusted again for the fall.