By Ellie Fellers,Special to the Sun Journal

NEW GLOUCESTER – Energy savings and conservation plans will go into effect in New Gloucester for all town buildings next month, selectmen agreed Monday.

For a trial period, the hours of operation at the Town Office and library will change, eliminating one day each week and lengthening workdays. Each will switch to a four-day week.

Selectmen approved keeping the Town Office open to the public on Mondays from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Tuesdays through Thursdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The number of hours employees work will remain the same.

This change takes effect the second week of October. That way it will be after Friday, Oct. 7, the day municipal taxes are due.

The extended hours, said Town Manager Rosemary Kulow, will improve accessibility to the public because the office will be open earlier and later three days per week.

By closing the office on Fridays, currently a short workday, Kulow said savings will be realized on heating, cooling and electrical costs. That’s because thermostats can be set for a more energy-efficient temperature for a longer period.

In addition, the extra day off will lower transportation costs to employees to help them keep personal transportation costs down.

Selectmen said they plan to re-evaluate the schedule changes early next year to determine if the town is saving money.

New library hours

Selectmen announced that the Library Board of Trustees also agreed to change the library’s business hours to save energy. The library will be open from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. with no lunchtime closing on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. The library will be open Fridays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

During the winter, the library will be closed Saturdays.

The changed library hours also will take effect the second week of October.

Other efforts will include making all buildings more energy-efficient by: filling holes and cracks, installing insulation where possible, wrapping pipes and water heaters, replacing doors, covering windows with plastic or storm windows, and installing weatherstripping.

Wherever possible, energy-efficient lighting will be installed. And the Town Hall heating, ventilation and cooling system will be evaluated to ensure optimal performance.

A more efficient heating system will be installed at the transfer station, possibly a waste-oil burner or Monitor heater instead of the electric heater currently used.

Whenever practical, shared vehicle trips for employees’ business is being recommended.

Office temperatures

Recommended workplace temperatures in town buildings will be between 68 to 72 degrees in offices and 62 to 65 degree in areas where workers are very active.

The heating system at the library will be evaluated for optimum efficiency. And the temperature on all electric water heaters will be turned down.

Selectmen also agreed to increase the mileage reimbursement for employees to 48.5 cents per mile based on a recent IRS and Treasury Department announcement that covers the final four months of 2005. Selectmen plan to review the rate in December. The town now reimburses employees 37.5 cents per mile.

In other business, selectmen opened seven bids to perform an economic development study townwide. Four out-of-state companies and three Maine groups submitted applications, which will be reviewed by an ad hoc committee.

Finally, selectmen authorized Benchmark to paint and install wooden clapboard siding at the lower Gloucester Meeting House at $49,245. And Protection One will install a security system at the town hall for $7,515.

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