Editor:

Today I was making my rounds going to the bank, post office and various other places of business to pay bills or other errands. I stopped into the Buckingham County Administrative Building to pay my taxes. I was informed the treasurer’s office had closed at noon in recognition of Administrative Professionals Day. When I asked why, I was directed to a sign posted on the front door as if somehow I had powers of perception enabling me to foresee this notice before I arrived, thus eliminating one leg of my gas-burning trip from one end of the county to the other. I thought the entire concept of holding an administrative position was to be at one’s desk doing actual work. Apparently, this was lost on the fine folks in the county headquarters building. All the other businesses I visited were staffed throughout the day with some having nice flower arrangements on their desks.

A private business should be able to close whenever they see fit in observance of any holiday they may recognize but when it comes to a taxpayer-funded government office, one would think they would have those taxpaying citizens in their best interests and not find any excuse to leave the office early and close down for the day. It’s an insult to all who traveled there that day for county business only to find the offices dark and locked. The inconvenience to all who will have to make additional arrangements to go there another day seems secondary to their want of a paid afternoon off.

Paul Barlow

Buckingham