WINTON – A measure has been approved that will allow Hertford County local government employees to enjoy an added day off in 2013.

At Monday’s meeting, Hertford County Commissioner Bill Mitchell initially put the idea on the floor to discuss the possibility of adding Veterans Day as a paid holiday for county workers.

Hertford County Manager Loria Williams said that in years past the board opted to have three paid days off at Christmas, one of which is used in lieu of closing county offices on Veterans Day.

“That’s why it’s (Veterans Day) not on the (2013) schedule,” Williams said.

Commissioner Howard Hunter III noted that some other local businesses, mainly banking institutions, are closed on Veterans Day, as well as the local school system.

“The Christmas holiday, depending upon how it falls (on which day of the week), most jurisdictions or the state (offices) only get two days off,” Williams stated.

Referencing Mitchell’s suggestion that the county look at including Veterans Day as a paid holiday for local government employees, Commission Chairman Curtis Freeman asked if that would leave the 2013 Christmas holiday break (Tuesday, Dec. 24; Wednesday, Dec. 25; and Thursday, Dec. 26) as scheduled.

“Yes, that would be my suggestion to leave everything as is and add Veterans Day,” Mitchell replied.

“So, what you’re saying is that we will have 12 paid holidays instead of 11,” stated Commissioner Ronald Gatling.

Mitchell motioned to add Veterans Day to the list of 2013 holiday closings for Hertford County’s local government offices. Hunter offered a second and the motion passed without objection.

The Veterans Day holiday (Nov. 11) will be in line with the day observed by the Federal Government each year.

Other than the ones previously mentioned, the remaining paid holidays observed by Hertford County local government in 2013 are:

New Year’s Day – Tuesday, Jan. 1

Martin Luther King Jr. Day – Monday, Jan. 21

Good Friday – Friday, March 29

Memorial Day – Monday, May 27

Independence Day – Thursday, July 4

Labor Day – Monday, Sept. 2

Thanksgiving – Thursday, Nov. 28 and Friday, Nov. 29