At least they are WILLING to try to help the situation. Why not try to do everything possible in Bayonne? Take a look around our town, we waste a lot of money on energy. INDEPENDENCE TWP. - Town hall will be closed Fridays starting next month in an attempt to save on utility costs. Heating, cooling and electricity costs have skyrocketed in recent years, Mayor Bob Giordano said. Keeping lights off and heat and air conditioning low three days in a row should save the township money, he said. "We don't really know if there's a hard figure here, but we figure there must be some heating and cooling costs we can save taking out three days a week," township Committeeman John Cummins said. Utilities for all the township's buildings, which also include the public works garage, senior center and post office, are expected to cost 1,600 this year. Cummins said the monthly utilities for the municipal building alone range between ,500 and ,000. The township is looking at various ways to save money as it faces a 0,000 cut in state aid, Giordano said. "We're looking at all the cost measures we can take at this point," Giordano said. Washington Township in Morris County last summer closed its municipal building on Fridays to save on utility costs. The township's utility costs still rose but not as much as had been estimated, township Administrator Diane Gallets said. "It seemed to work out and the residents didn't seem to have a problem with it," she said. Independence plans to review its shortened work week in three months to see it if saved money and how the public received it.

Does this mean that the city employees are now working a 4-day work week? At the same salary?

Well...that's not exactly my point. I wouldn't want our city workers getting a free day off every Friday. My point is....there is a lot of waste in our city, especially in terms of energy use. I'm surprised that there isn't more outrage about it during our current financial crisis. And I appreciate a town (I understand that it is MUCh smaller than ours) where the public officials and leaders are taking a look around and making an effort in EVERY area to try to ease the burden. Just a few examples off the top of my head come to mind in regards to our city's waste of energy/money.... The Christmas lights that are still on the trees of Broadway and remain on all night (although most of them are not functioning). The message board in front of City Hall, that is on all night. During the summer months, the fountains in front of City Hall. The baseball diamond lights that are left on at our parks when there is bad weather, or when no team is playing. Take a look around...you'll find little things that can add up to big bucks.