Service, savings at crux of four-day week in township

Fridays will not be an ideal time to visit the Commerce Township Hall this summer because it won’t be open, due to the implementation of a trial four-day work week for township employees this summer.

The first Friday the office will be closed will be June 10, and the first Friday it will reopen will be Sept. 30.

“Our rationale is two-fold,” said Clerk Dan Munro. “First, to provide additional service hours to residents by expanding office hours.”

During the trial period, the Township Hall will be open from 7:15 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., which, according to Munro, will give residents an extra hour in the morning and extra hour in the evening to conduct their business at the township offices. Usually during the summer, the offices are open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

“The second (reason) is the potential to save money through the reduction of utilities and other costs (incurred) by having the township open (on Fridays). We’ve been looking at other communities who’ve been doing the same. The city of Wixom, most notably, has saved approximately $48,000. So we thought we’d try it on a temporary basis to see if we can also gain those types of efficiencies.”

Although there have been some “mixed results” among staff, for the most part, Munro said township workers have been receptive to the idea.

“This is something that both the team members, full-time elected officials and management have been very open-minded in trying,” he said. “We hope residents find it beneficial from a cost reduction and conservation standpoint. We are looking at every possible way of making our community more efficient and keeping taxes at the lowest rate possible while providing great service to our citizens,” he said.