By Dave Fidlin
Correspondent
Whitewater residents, contractors and other persons conducting municipal business at city hall might have a longer window of opportunity to do so each day as part of a recently floated plan.
City Manager Cameron Clapper discussed with the Common Council the prospect of tweaking general operating hours at a meeting Oct. 4. No formal action was taken, but a recommendation could soon come down the pike.
Whitewater’s municipal building currently operates during the standard business hours: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. In the summer, the window is shrunken to 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
“In recent years, many municipalities have modified city hall hours of operation to better accommodate the schedule of their residents, or their employees, or both,” Clapper said.
Shifting the operations window beyond standard business hours has been a growing trend across a number of municipalities as a more customer-focused approach is being adopted. Some municipalities, such as Milwaukee, are even labeling various department windows as “customer service” counters.
Clapper presented the council with a spreadsheet that delved into a list of communities across southeastern Wisconsin. While many still run their municipal buildings within standard business hours, Clapper noted others have been making a shift.
“A common schedule shift is to a workday starting at 7 a.m. or 7:30 a.m. and ending between 4 p.m. and 4:30 p.m.,” Clapper said. “Some communities have selected to operate on a 9-hour day, Monday to Thursday, and a half-day on Friday.”
While no surrounding communities have shifted their operating hours, a sampling of those opening their doors early in the morning include Oak Creek, Reedsburg, Richfield, South Milwaukee, Waupaca and Waupun.
Clapper noted staffing would be an important part of deciding whether to move forward with the plan, though he pointed out there is support among staffers.
“A majority of municipal building employees would favor a change in building hours and would view (it) as a significant benefit,” Clapper said. “The advantage to the organization would be the ability to provide a popular benefit to employees without having to increase costs.”
Further discussion is anticipated in the next month as the council delves into the city’s 2017 budget and determines whether the shift would fit into the plans.
