Pomona : City Hall to Close Fridays

The City Hall and library will be closed Fridays, starting next week, under a labor agreement approved by the City Council on Monday night by a 4-3 vote.

The agreement puts most employees on a four-day workweek, giving them the same pay for 36 hours of work they now receive for 40.

Councilman Tomas Ursua, who opposed the agreement, said it promises to save the city $1.5 million this year but reduces the amount of work that will be done and raises pay rates at a time when the city is suffering financially.

Council members Nell Soto and Willie E. White also voted against the agreement, saying they oppose the Friday closing.

Councilwoman Paula Lantz also voted against the agreement, but changed her mind. Lantz said she expects the state to take millions of dollars in revenue from the city to solve its budget problems, which may force city layoffs even with the savings of a four-day week.

But after the labor agreement was rejected, she asked for reconsideration and cast the deciding vote for the pact, saying it would be unfair to renege on the terms the council had instructed its staff to negotiate.

Starting Feb. 1, the library will be open from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday and noon to 5 p.m. Saturday. City Hall will be open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday.