Workers at the Municipal Building All Hot Under the Collar

If you’re steamed under the collar about something, don’t take your grievance to Harrison's Municipal Building today. We can promise you that you are only going to get hotter under the collar than you already were.

In record-breaking July heat, the central air conditioning units at the Municipal Building malfunctioned yesterday. Town employees have been working yesterday and today without it, despite temperatures over 100 degrees.

Mayor Joan Walsh said that the employees have been doing everything they can to keep town services fully functional despite the problem.

“Offices on the outside of the building have small window unit air conditioners and staff in the hottest areas of the building have been moving desks to try to make the most of those window units,” Walsh said.

That didn’t help the Mayor herself, whose window unit was not functioning. She and her personal staff, Walsh said, just sweated it out.

“We’ve all been making it work until it becomes unbearable and we have to get a break somewhere cool,” she said.

Repair personnel are scheduled to work through the weekend to replace necessary parts and hopefully have the air conditioning back up and working by the time employees report back to work Monday morning. Walsh said in her column this week that the .

Though the Mayor discussed the option of closing the Municipal Building with employees, the staff decided to make do and stay at work despite the extreme heat.

“I am incredibly proud of the teamwork and commitment the employees have shown through this discomfort." Walsh said. “It is yet another example of town employees coming through for the residents and town in difficult conditions."