Town Manager Pushes Energy-Saving Plans

     The Mashpee Board of Selectmen on Monday evening gave a wary approval to Town Manager Joyce M. Mason’s request to further study the possibility of opening Mashpee Town Hall only four days a week.
     Selectmen questioned whether opening town hall for four, 10-hour days, leaving the building open for the same total amount of hours through the week but for longer days, would actually save the town money on energy costs and whether it would otherwise benefit residents.
     But despite their reservations, the board agreed to support Ms. Mason’s request to offer a survey to residents to get a sense of what they think about the possibility.
     Selectman George F. Green Jr. seemed to sum up the consensus on the scheduled change survey when he said, “Getting more information doesn’t commit us to doing anything with it.”
     Ms. Mason said, “I think this is just the next step in the process to see what the community thinks.”
     The surveys will be posted on the town website and available at town hall.
     The board also approved a new energy policy for the town, which went into effect Tuesday.
     Ms. Mason caused a stir last month when she first suggested the town consider cutting back to a four-day operation during a television interview before discussing the idea with the board of selectmen.
     Selectman Wayne E. Taylor said he was unsure how opening the building only four days would save the town money, unless it was closed for three consecutive days. He also raised questions about how Monday holidays would be factored in, whether the unions would support the proposal, and how the larger town departments like police, fire, and public works would be dealt with.
     He said the only savings he could see would be for town employees who have long commutes.
     Mr. Taylor said he did not want Ms. Mason to spend time working on a proposal that was doomed to begin with. He said he is not in favor of the proposal or the survey, but he would abide by the whole board’s decision.
     John J. Cahalane, chairman of the board, said paring back the schedule is the “last thing” he would look to do to save money and energy.
     Mr. Green noted that for the people who work from 9 AM to 5 PM, having town hall open longer hours on four days may be more convenient.
     Mr. Cahalane said he hears often from residents that having town hall open Saturday would be the most convenient change.
     Mr. Green suggested getting a sense of when town hall is the most and least busy, to be incorporated into the analysis.
     An explanation of the survey states, “Long-term negative environmental effects and recent spikes in the cost of energy are making citizens, private enterprise, and government entities across the country rethink the way we run our lives. In an attempt at being proactive, the Town of Mashpee is considering a trial program of moving to a 4, 10-hour-day work week.”
     Ms. Mason said the Massachusetts Municipal Association sent out a poll the day of the meeting to gauge what towns are doing to save energy.
     The Mashpee survey includes questions about whether residents support the schedule change at all and, if the schedule were to be changed to four days a week, what day residents would like to see the building closed. There are also open-ended questions asking residents what they think of the idea and soliciting suggestions about the town’s more general energy policies.
     The energy policy, which was adopted by the board with little substantive question or comment, ranges from common sense measures, like turning off the lights when leaving a room, to more stringent rules, like a new prohibition on personal appliances such as heaters, refrigerators, toaster ovens, microwaves, and coffee makers. “These items are all available in the common break room,” according to the policy.
     The document recommends town employees to turn off all computers each night, close blinds in summer to avoid solar heat gain, pare back temperature controls at the end of each day, close windows when leaving, wear “seasonally appropriate” clothes in order to need less temperature control, avoid travel except when “absolutely necessary,” “always car pool” when attending off-site meetings with other town employees, use double-sided printing when possible, and use e-mail for internal notices.