Cave Creek Town Hall tries four-day week for summer

By Linda Bentley | May 20, 2009

Goal is to provide best level of service while saving money
CAVE CREEK – Beginning June 1, Cave Creek Town Hall will go to a four-day week and will be open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday for the summer, resuming a five-day week in October.

Due to the current economic climate, staff is already working a reduced 32-hour week. However, employees are currently taking different days off, in order to keep town hall open five days per week. On any given day one department or another may not have staff available.

Carrie DyrekTown Clerk Carrie Dyrek says going to a four-day week will reduce utility costs during the highest use months, which Town Manager Usama Abujbarah estimates will save about 15 percent on its utility bills.

Abujbarah said the town is experimenting with the four-day summer schedule to see how it goes.

Besides cost savings, the goal of closing on Fridays is so all departments can be staffed on the same days, which Dyrek says will provide more efficient service to the public.
Dyrek ran through a few upcoming events, including a special meeting of the town council on Tuesday, May 26 (Monday is Memorial Day) to canvass the election so the new council can be sworn in at its first meeting on Monday, June 1.

Then, due to the election of planning commissioners Steve LaMar and Jim Bruce to council, the newly seated council will need to appoint two new members to the planning commission, which will be meeting on Thursday, June 4 to review four general plan amendments as well as a rezoning application submitted by Walmart.

The general plan amendments are then scheduled for a public hearing and review by council on June 15.

Photo: Town Clerk Carrie Dyrek
Photo by Linda Bentley