Durham keeps five-day work week

City Councilman Howard Clement proposed studying the idea to save money on gasoline. City vehicles use almost 63,000 gallons of gas and more than 39,600 gallons of diesel each month, and prices paid to fuel fleet vehicles have increased between 11 and 21 percent since last year, officials said.

Durham city staff members said Thursday that a flex-time policy already allows employees to work four days with department approval, and the city also has policies encouraging workers to cut down on personal gas use by riding the bus or sharing rides.

"I think we really have it covered on both ends, and at the end of the day, it is about how the citizens are best served," City Manager Tom Bonfield said.

Wayne County moved many employees to a four-day work week last month. Essential employees like firefighters, police and court officials still work Monday through Friday.