PORTSMOUTH — Town Council members will start hosting office hours at Town Hall on the second Wednesday and Thursday of each month beginning on April 9.

A councilor will be available to meet with citizens to discuss their concerns, answer questions, explain positions on relevant town issues, and listen to their hopes for Portsmouth. 

Office hours will be from 1-3 p.m. on Wednesdays and from 5-6:30 p.m. on Thursdays, with the first two scheduled for April 9 and 10. These times will be posted on the town’s website each month.

Council President Keith Hamilton reminded council members at Monday’s meeting that while it’s OK to have anywhere from one to three councilors hosting an office hour at once, there certainly cannot be four because that would constitute a quorum.

“We need to make sure as a council we’re not violating the Open Meetings Act by having a quorum by accident, and/or rolling quorums through e-mails,” Hamilton said.

Any issues brought up by citizens at these gatherings should be brought back to either the council or town staff for review, he said.

In the future, the office hours may be held in other town buildings, such as the library or the police station.