Town Hall hours change

NEW HARTFORD — New Hartford will reduce the number of days Town Hall will be open in an effort to save money on heating bills this winter. The new hours will begin Monday, Oct. 6.

First Selectman Earl MacInnes said all town offices, including those of the town clerk, tax collector and assessor, land use and selectmen, will be affected by the new hours. The police, public safety and public works departments will not be affected.

Currently town offices are open Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Wednesday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Friday, 8 a.m. to noon. Beginning Oct. 6, Town Hall will be open one hour later on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday will stay the same and Friday the building will be closed.

While energy saving prompted the change, MacInnes said in the end the town will be better able to service the residents.

“We’re trying to conserve energy. The cost of energy fuel oil and the cost of electricity is simply unpredictable and we have to take steps to preserve energy and stay within the budget approved by the town,� said MacInnes. “It’s going to be able to give better customer service being open one hour later. Many of the people who live in New Hartford work out of town and it’s very difficult for them to get back into town to do business in Town Hall.�

As for Fridays, MacInnes said he doesn’t feel the closure will have a great impact on the residents.

“We did a survey of the number of residents that come into Town Hall on a Friday morning and the most we had on a Friday was four,� he said.

“I think it is going to help people, being open later,� said Assistant Town Clerk Nancy Eldridge. “Donna has been working on the indexes for the land records. They will be online. So those will be available for title searches [when we’re closed]. I don’t really see there being any issues in our office. I think we will still be able to serve the public.�

In addition to the cost benefits to the town, employees will see a cost benefit in their own wallets as well. Now that Town Hall will not be open on Friday, employees will have one day less a week to commute, saving money for gas usage and wear and tear on their vehicles while still working a full work week.

“It will definitely help cut back on energy costs,� said Eldridge.

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