By Dawn De Busk

Staff Writer

NAPLES— The Town of Naples will depart from holiday tradition, and close the town office for the entire day on the day before Christmas. 

Typically, the Naples Town Hall closes at noon on Dec. 24. That was the request made by Naples Town Manager John Hawley.

However, the Naples Board of Selectmen decided to have the town office officially close on Dec. 24 and Dec. 25, with staff returning on Monday, Dec. 28. 

When the selectmen first suggested the all-day closure on Christmas Eve, Hawley agreed it would be a nice break, especially after some of the things that 2020 have presented to staff such as working around a pandemic and an election that broke records for the number of absentee ballots processed and also brought out some hostility in a few voters. 

Chairman Jim Grattelo talked about how since Christmas fell on a Friday, it would make more sense to close the office entirely on Christmas Eve and give the staff four days off. He said if Christmas was at the beginning of the week, such as a Tuesday or a Wednesday and Christmas Eve fell on a Monday or Tuesday, then it would be nice for the public if the office were open until noon. Being closed on Thursday and Friday still gives people an opportunity to do town business on Monday through Wednesday before the two-day closure, Grattelo said.  

Selectman Ted Shane weighed in.

“I work at another municipality; and the town hall is closed on Dec. 24 because the state is closed and the clerks cannot contact the state with registrations and such,” Shane said.

Shane is the public works director for the Town of New Gloucester. 

“I am also in favor” of closing the town hall for the entire day on Christmas Eve, he said.

Selectman Caleb Humphrey showed his support by making the motion that the Naples Town Hall will be closed all day on Dec. 24. 

Hawley said, “Thank you very much. I appreciate that.”

Another thing that’s appreciated: The businesses that have decked the halls for the holidays.

Selectman Bob Caron II said he has noticed the efforts made by business-owners to get into the spirit of Christmas.

“It’s nice when coming from Windham to see the businesses on the east side of town that have decorated for Christmas. It is very nice and appreciated,” Caron said. 

Grattelo agreed.  

“The Barn [Knight’s Barn] has more lights on it than it did last year. And I didn’t think it could have more lights,” he said.