Training Oct. 18 for Town Information Desk

A training session for Town Hall Information Desk volunteers has been scheduled Monday, Oct. 18 at the Clayton Center.

It will be held in the Poole Room from 3 to 5 pm. Volunteer staffing of the Information Desk will begin the next day.

"We are still in need of volunteers to sign up," said Clayton Center Executive Director Heidi Stump. "We need a larger pool of volunteers."

Primary responsibilities include welcoming and directing visitors to the proper departments in both Town Hall and The Clayton Center and providing general information about the community. Officials hope to be able to staff the Desk with volunteers from 10 am to 2 pm each weekday. A Volunteer Information Form can be downloaded by clicking here.

"There's a need to have somebody there during the day," said Parks & Recreation Director Larry Bailey. "There's still a lot of new people coming into town who don't know much about the town or where things are."

Anyone interested in volunteering is asked to call Bailey at 553-5777 or email the volunteer registration form (attached) to lbailey@townofclaytonnc.org Applicants should submit the volunteer form by Thursday, October 16 to participate in the orientation the following Monday.

Town officials put out a call a few weeks ago for volunteers to help staff the Information Desk, which has been lleft vacant by budget cuts. The Desk has been empty for the last few weeks due to staff reductions forced by the scaled-down 2010-2011 town budget that cuts spending substantially but continues to hold the line on taxes. Among the final cuts was the town's long-published monthly newsletter to residents and the Information Desk staff.

"This will be a tough year," Biggs said.

Some projects are continuing as planned, including the new Law Enforcement Center, the "Downtown Plaza" project at Main and Lombard Streets and the upcoming street improvement project. But other normal spending patterns have been disrupted.

One department, the Parks and Recreation Department headed by Bailey, is expanding its operations this year despite cuts to its budget, mostly due to opportunities offered by the newly opened Clayton Community Center.

Staff reductions this year included 11 full-time positions and two part-time positions. In addition, three full-time employees are working reduced hours. Raises were eliminated for the second straight year.

While the cuts, especially to staff, are painful, Biggs said the town must continue what he called "a demonstrated commitment to financial strength."