Bolton's Entire City Hall to Close for Four Days: Residents Question Timing and Planning

The Bolton News

The Town of Bolton has announced that City Hall will be closed for four consecutive days—from Monday, July 21 through Thursday, July 24—while staff attend a municipal conference and professional development training.

According to the official press release, the closure is intended to allow all City Hall employees to participate in the training sessions, which are described as efforts to “better serve the community.” City Hall is scheduled to reopen with normal business hours on Friday, July 25.

While professional development is widely recognized as important for effective municipal operations, the complete shutdown of City Hall for nearly a full workweek has raised some eyebrows among local residents and business owners.

“I understand the need for training, but closing the entire operation without leaving even one person on staff to assist residents in person or by phone? That seems poorly planned,” said longtime Bolton resident Carolyn Jackson. “People still have business to take care of—permits, payments, records, you name it.”

The move comes early in the tenure of newly elected Mayor Alisa Butler-Kidd, whose administration has promised transparency, accessibility, and modernization. Some question whether closing City Hall entirely aligns with those goals.

“It sends the wrong message,” said a local business owner who asked not to be named. “There are ways to balance training and service. Other cities stagger attendance or keep a skeleton crew available. Shutting the doors for four days seems avoidable.”

Residents with urgent matters are instructed to contact the Bolton Police Department, which will remain operational during the closure.

The municipal conference may provide valuable insights and tools for better governance, but the lack of contingency planning or alternative access during the closure has left some residents feeling disconnected.

As one town hall regular put it, “If the goal is to better serve the public, the first step might be staying open to serve them.”