Prime-Time Government
posted August 18th by Sam

City Hall belongs to you, and it should be open and accessible when you need it. So why does the office of the Parking Clerk close at 4:30 p.m. on weekdays?

We should be doing government business in prime time hours. People should not have to take time off work to get a resident parking sticker or attend a City Council meeting.

Moreover, this is a perfect example of the need for performance-based management. If we have data on consumer demand for city services, we will know exactly when and where we need staffing. In other words, we can have hours of operation that reflect the times you are most likely to be there. This approach is cost effective for the city and customer friendly for residents, but the Mayor has shown no interest in doing it.

Nearly every neighboring city and town hall stays open during the evening at least one day a week – Brookline, Cambridge, Chelsea, Dedham, Newton, Somerville, and Watertown.

But Boston City Hall shuts its doors at 5:30 p.m. every day. Some offices close earlier. Some offices are only open four days a week. Nothing is open on the weekends. This is your city government, and it doesn’t have to run this way.