EAST BRIDGEWATER - February 9, 2026 - The East Bridgewater Select Board has officially approved changes to municipal operating hours, most notably moving the Monday night closing time at Town Hall from 8:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. This shift comes as part of a newly ratified clerical memorandum of agreement that reduces unpaid lunch breaks for staff in exchange for earlier dismissal times. The Board emphasized that the change reflects modern service trends, noting that foot traffic during the final hour of Monday nights has become extremely light as residents increasingly utilize online payment and digital services.
The Full Story
Town Administrator Charlie Seelig detailed the operational impacts of the clerical memorandum of agreement (MOA), explaining that full-time staff who previously worked until 8:00 p.m. on Mondays will now depart at 7:00 p.m. [15:22]. This was negotiated by reducing the traditional one-hour unpaid lunch break to 45 minutes [15:05]. While Town Hall will close an hour earlier on Mondays, Seelig assured the board that citizens have multiple alternatives for interacting with town departments, including the 24-hour drop box for census forms and expanded online billing options [16:07].
“From 7:00 to 8:00, the number of people who come into the building at this point is extremely few... 7:00 is still late enough that if people need to touch base with a department, they’ll be able to do that.” [15:43] — Charlie Seelig, Town Administrator
The board also addressed the Council on Aging (COA) and Department of Public Works (DPW) clerical schedules. At the COA, staff will now depart at 12:00 p.m. on Fridays rather than 1:00 p.m., also balanced by shortened lunch periods during the rest of the week [16:43]. DPW clerical staff, who traditionally work through lunch to leave earlier, will see no change in their public-facing hours [17:09].
In a related move, the Board approved two new committees aimed at modernizing town governance: a Personnel Policy Review Committee and a Wellness and Engagement Committee [07:45, 11:25]. The Personnel Committee is tasked with updating policies that, in some cases, have not been revised in decades [10:10]. The Wellness Committee will focus on employee morale and health initiatives across all departments, including police, fire, and library staff [12:14].
Why It Matters
For the average resident, the primary impact is a one-hour reduction in Monday evening access to Town Hall. However, the move is intended to improve employee retention by aligning schedules with actual public demand. The creation of the Personnel Policy Review Committee also signals a move toward greater transparency and fairness in how non-union town employees are managed and compensated [09:02].
Official Minutes & Data
Key Motions & Votes
Motion: To approve the waiver of all interest and demand fees on water department bills for 127 Village Road effective February 9, 2026. [03:09]
Vote: Unanimous (3-0) ([06:01])
Motion: To appoint Nancy Hall to the Council on Aging through June 30, 2027. [06:42]
Vote: Unanimous (3-0) ([07:42])
Motion: To establish a Personnel Policy Review Committee and appoint various town officials and employees. [07:45]
Vote: Unanimous (3-0) ([10:57])
Motion: To establish a Wellness and Engagement Committee. [11:25]
Vote: Unanimous (3-0) ([14:09])
Motion: To approve the updated public hours for Town Hall, COA, and DPW. [23:06]
Vote: Unanimous (3-0) ([23:25])
Public Comment
The open forum saw no public participation, with Chair Peter Spagone noting the “full house” of one person in attendance [02:20].
What’s Next
March 2, 2026: New Town Hall hours take effect [23:35].
March 6, 2026: New Council on Aging hours take effect [23:48].
March 22, 2026: “Fill the Shed” food drive and Pancake Breakfast at the Mitchell School (7:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.) [27:01].
Elections: Chair Peter Spagone announced he is officially running for re-election [28:03].
Source Video: EBCAM - East Bridgewater Community Access Media