By Angela Brown

N.B. City Hall opening later; small boost for front-line staff

Nov 22, 2017 | 4:00 PM

North Battleford City Hall is changing its morning hours to open the doors one hour later to the public.

Starting on Nov. 27, City Hall will be open to the public from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday to Friday from the current opening time of 8 a.m. 

However, residents can still call the main reception number at 306-445-1700 for enquiries starting at 8 a.m.

“That may create some frustration for people, but we are open during the noon hour,” said Mayor Ryan Bater. “The city hall is open through the entire day so if people have a lunch-break they can come during that time as well. City staff are working at 8; it’s just the doors won’t be open to 9 so they can work uninterrupted on the task.”

City manager Jim Puffalt said the front-line team’s workload is backlogged a bit. They also have an added duties. Allowing them the extra time in the day would help them tackle their tasks quicker. 

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The opening time change is currently on a trial basis and will be assessed at a later date. 

Also during council’s meeting, members approved a resolution to increase pay by $1 more per hour for the following administrative and clerical staff positions: cashier; tax and assessment clerk; utilities clerk; accounts payable clerk; and for three receptionists, as of May 1, 2017.

Puffalt said one of the city’s positions had been eliminated as a result of the spring provincial budget cuts.

As a result, these staff have taken on additional support staff duties for the main floor deptartments: cash, taxes, and utilities.

“We want to thank our staff because they have really stepped up,” said Puffalt. “Even with all these changes this still saves about $52,000 a year.”  

Council approved the resolution at its Nov. 14 meeting.

angela.brown@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @battlefordsnow