New Town Hall Hours Beginning March 2, 2026
The Town of Lyman would like to share an upcoming change to Town Hall office hours. Effective Monday, March 2, 2026, the office schedule will be adjusted as outlined below:
- Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday: 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
- Wednesday: 8:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
- Friday: Closed
While the total weekly public hours will be reduced by one hour, the revised schedule is intended to better align service delivery with current traffic patterns, support employee retention and recruitment, and keep operational costs manageable for taxpayers.
In reviewing office traffic and service demand, activity on Wednesday evenings declines after 6:00 p.m., while residents frequently attempt to access services during Wednesday mornings. The revised schedule shifts availability to better match these observed trends.
The Select Board and Town Manager also reviewed recruitment and retention challenges facing municipalities across the region. Input from employees, applicants, and regional comparisons indicates that compensation pressures are increasing, and neighboring towns are making adjustments to remain competitive. The Board recommended gathering and evaluating data, including wage adjustments and modified hours, and to compare respective budget impacts before considering alternative solutions.
Modifying Town Hall hours results in a net reduction of one hour per week; however, this approach has a significantly lower impact on the budget than maintaining the status quo or increasing wages to regional averages. By modestly adjusting hours and extending daily coverage, the Town can help manage budget pressures while supporting employee retention and maintaining consistent, reliable public services.
The Board also considered the impacts of continued staffing turnover on service delivery. Frequent turnover can lead to reduced service levels, inconsistent customer experience, and unpredictable office closures due to vacancies, illness, or limited staff availability. In addition, repeated recruiting and onboarding efforts increase operational costs and place added strain on remaining staff. Many municipalities have responded to these challenges by moving to a four-day workweek as a way to improve retention, maintain stable staffing levels, and ensure more consistent and reliable public services
In addition to in-person services, the Town continues to expand and promote online service options that are available to residents at their convenience. Vehicle re-registrations, dog licensing (both new and renewals), hunting and fishing licenses, and tax payments can all be completed online, providing secure and accessible service outside of regular Town Hall hours.