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STORM GUIDELINES FOR DELAYS/ CLOSINGS
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In the event of a weather emergency or other unforeseen
circumstance, it may be necessary to close the Library for the safety
of patrons and staff. If such an event occurs, the Library Director
or the senior staff person on duty in consultation with the Town Manager
will make the decision. There is an emergency storm hotline at the
town offices that the Library Director or senior staff person will
call prior to making weather decisions. A message will then be placed
on the library’s phone system by 7:30 AM. If the library closes,
those people scheduled to work will be paid. If the library opens,
but a person who is scheduled to work cannot make it in due to the
weather, they can use personal or vacation time. Part-time staff may
also choose not to be paid.
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DELAYED OPENING OR CLOSED "SNOW DAY"
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Closings or delayed openings are coordinated
with the town offices in the following manner: |
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If Chelmsford town offices are closed due to severe
weather, the library will also be closed. A message will be put
on the library phone system by 7:30AM. Tech services staff that
normally come in prior to that time should delay their start time
on days of inclement weather and adjust their schedule accordingly.
When possible, the web page will also be updated to include storm
closings and delays. In inclement weather, Library staff should
call the library number – 1-978-256-5521 after 7:30 AM or
before heading into work.
If Chelmsford town offices are delayed due to
inclement weather, the library will also have a delayed opening
at 11 AM. Again, a message will be put on the library phone system
by 7:30 AM. If the snowfall necessitates street plowing then the
library parking lot must be plowed (and/or sanded and de-iced, whatever
conditions warrant…) in order to open to the public. The Custodian
will call the town department of public works if parking lot has
not been plowed when he arrives. He will also notify the senior
staff person in charge for the day when the plowing is completed
and the library is able to be opened. If the library and staff parking
lots are still not plowed in time for an 11 AM opening, staff reporting
to work should park across the street in the shopping plaza. The
library will open to the public once the parking lot has been plowed.
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MACKAY BRANCH:The Branch Library will follow the above stated policy
with the following exception: |
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If the library custodial staff is unable to adequately
address snow removal and ensure the safety of staff and public at
both the main library and the Branch, the Branch will close. At the
library director’s discretion, part-timeBranch staff should
either report to the main library for duty, work on projects at the
MacKay Library while it remains closed, request the use of a vacation
or personal day or opt not to be paid.
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EARLY CLOSING -DAYTIME
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If weather forecasts and road conditions warrant,
the Director or senior staff person in consultation with the Town
Manager will close the Library early.
If the Director is not at the Library, the staff member in charge
at the Main Library should call the Director. If the Director is
not available, one of the two Assistant Directors should be contacted.
If neither are available, the Town Manager will be make the decision.
Please make sure that the decision is communicated to the MacKay
Branch Library.
To minimize patron inconvenience during inclement weather, but also
aid in library staff safety, management may consider the option
of allowing employees to go home early if there is available administrative
staff to run the library. Employees leaving early must use personal
or vacation time or if feasible, make up the lost hours.
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EARLY CLOSING –EVENING
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The above guidelines for early closing in the daytime
also apply in the evening with the caveat that if the town manager
is not available, library management staff is granted the right to
close the library if the situation warrants it. However, the Town
Offices/Town Manager should be alerted to the early closing as soon
as possible. This also applies to closings due to power failures
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STORM CLOSING PROCEDURES FOR WEEKENDS
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On Saturdays, the custodian will contact the senior
staff person scheduled for that day and notify him/her of the status
of the parking lot. If it is not plowed, the custodian will contact
DPW but the library will have a delayed opening at 11 AM. On stormy
weekends, library staff should check the library phone message by
8:15 to ensure that there is not a delay. If DPW does not respond
in a timely fashion, the senior staff person in charge or the custodian
will contact the town manager. (Staff may also opt to contact the
library director or one of the two assistant directors who will in
turn contact the town manager if the plowing has not been completed.)
If plowing is not available that day, the senior staff person in charge
will notify the library director or one of the two assistant directors
that the library will not open. The senior staff person in charge
will change the phone system message by 10:30 to notify all scheduled
staff. |
