The Summit Public Works Department’s four-day work schedule has been an unlikely source of contention in town lately, but the mayor broke a tie vote Tuesday to keep it in place for now.
Residents railed against the four-day work schedule during last week’s board meeting, pointing to a water line break that disrupted service on Good Friday — when crews were off work and had to be called in to make repairs.
That occurred days after Councilman Julius Nash made a motion during last month’s meeting to return to a five-day schedule — against the wishes of Public Works Director Tim Baylor — and it died for a lack of a second.
The measure returned to the town council’s agenda on Tuesday night, but even after the line break and disparaging comments from residents regarding the schedule, not everyone on the council was convinced changing it was a good idea.
Councilman Joe Lewis said he talked with officials with the Mississippi State University Stennis Institute of Government, who said four-day work weeks are allowable under labor laws and are becoming more common in the workplace, particularly in the public sector.
He cited other advantages, such as reduced burnout, better employee retention and improved morale.
“My question is this: With the schedules now, is there any additional costs associated with working with four 10s as opposed to five eights?” Lewis asked.
“Overtime,” resident Jane Lawrence said from the audience, referring to when crews have to be called in to make repairs on Fridays.
“Overtime is not that expensive,” Lewis said.
Baylor said the four-day work week is easier to manage during the summer’s intense heat and longer daylight hours.
“During the summertime, it’s getting hot and we have long days to work,” he said.
The council deadlocked 2-2, with Lewis and Councilman Marcus Pittman opposed to changing the schedule back to five days and Nash and Councilman Chris Daniels in favor.
Robinson compromised with his tie-breaker, keeping the four-day work week in place for now.
“When October comes and we go back to the times where they work on Friday it’s probably going to stay that way, half a day on Friday, working along with all of us,” he said. “At this time, I’m going to vote to leave it that way during the summer months.”
Nash asked why the town voted years ago to change the scheduled in the first place and Robinson said he’d look for an explanation in the minute books.
