USPS may shutter Freehold trailer

[admin]

www.app.com/article/20090215/NEWS01/902150347/1004/NEWS01

FREEHOLD — Local officials are voicing strong opposition to the closure of Freehold's tiny post office trailer, one cost-cutting measure being considered by the U.S. Postal Service.

"This would be unprecedented," said Jeff Sagnip, spokesman for Rep. Christopher H. Smith, R-N.J., who opposes the closure the Lafayette Street facility.

The Postal Service, facing a steep decline in mail volume, is weighing several options to save money, said the agency's regional spokeswoman, Darleen Reid-DeMeo. One possibility is closing Freehold's post office, though she cautioned that the agency has made no decision yet.

"At this point, we're just starting to look into it," Reid-DeMeo said.

But local officials are not taking any chances. They are seeking a meeting with Postal Service representa-tives to make their case that the borough needs its own facility to serve its businesses, government offices and residents.

The Freehold Township Committee already has passed a resolution supporting the continuation of the borough post office. The Borough Council plans to pass its own resolution, Borough Administrator Joseph Bellina said.

Richard Gatto, chief executive officer of the Freehold Center Partnership — which represents more than 400 businesses and property owners in Freehold — also has sent a strongly worded letter to the postmaster general asking for immediate intervention in the matter.

Priscilla Maney, the Postal Service's Central Jersey district manager, plans to reach out to local officials, in hopes they can come up with a solution together, Reid-DeMeo said Friday.

If the borough office is closed, its operations would be consolidated with those at the township's post office at 200 Village Center Drive, according to Reid-DeMeo. Those operations include 417 post office boxes currently rented out of the borough facility.

Consolidating operations would put a greater burden on the township facility, which local officials contend is already working at capacity.

"I think it's unfair," Deputy Freehold Township Mayor Anthony Ammiano said at the Township Committee's meeting Tuesday.

"This would be devastating," agreed Freehold attorney Thomas Martin, who was mailing a bundle of letters at the borough post office Friday morning.

Martin said he appreciates the convenience of being able to walk to the facility from his East Main Street office. Without it, he said he might turn to a courier service.

The borough post office was set up in 2002, after the U.S. Postal Service decided to close an existing facility because of a dispute with the private contractor that ran it.

Since then, the agency has searched for another supplier to provide mail service, Reid-DeMeo said.

"It (the trailer) was meant to be just a temporary solution," Reid-DeMeo said.

The U.S. Postal Service is now in "serious financial straits," Reid-DeMeo said.

Nationwide, the U.S. Postal Service saw a drop of more than 9.5 billion pieces of mail last year. In Freehold, business has declined by 12.2 percent, she added.

"We have to manage costs anywhere we can," she said.

Customers still would have several options besides the borough post office to meet their mailing needs, she said.

Customers can buy stamps at several local businesses, including the CVS pharmacy on West Main Street and Office Depot on Trotters Way. They also can send packages at the Postal Service's business partner, Postal Bin LLC on West Main Street.

The township facility also has an automated postal center for certain transactions, and many postal services can be accessed online, at www.usps.com, Reid-DeMeo said.

Kim Predham: [phone] or [e-mail]

This story includes material from previous Press stories.

[novillero]

I've had conversations with the postal workers at our temp branch. they pretty much said that the decision is made from Washington by a person who has never been to Freehold... probably the same dummy that designed the Raintree P.O.

the rumor previously was that the sheriff;s office was moving, and the P.O. would move in there.

Strange that a county seat would not have a P.O... but that is the federal govt.

[admin]

Feb 15, 2009 16:28:17 GMT -5 novillero said:

I've had conversations with the postal workers at our temp branch. they pretty much said that the decision is made from Washington by a person who has never been to Freehold... probably the same dummy that designed the Raintree P.O.

the rumor previously was that the sheriff;s office was moving, and the P.O. would move in there.

Strange that a county seat would not have a P.O... but that is the federal govt.

I have heard that about the Sheriff. What is a county seat without a Sheriff?

[admin]

newstranscript.gmnews.com/news/2009/0218/front_page/007.html

Effort under way to keep postal unit in Freehold
BY CLARE MARIE CELANO Staff Writer


FREEHOLD — Municipal officials were expected to pass a resolution at the Feb. 17 Borough Council to support keeping a U.S. Postal Service facility where it is — on Lafayette Street.

Darlene Reid, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Postal Service, said, "Local post office officials are looking into the feasibility of relocating postal service from the trailer (on Lafayette Street) to 200 Village Center Drive."

In so many words, Reid was saying that the postal service wants to close the trailer on Lafayette Street that has served as a post office for seven years and move exclusively to the post office on Village Center Drive in the Raintree shopping center in Freehold Township.

In a letter to John E. Potter, postmaster general and Chief Executive Officer of the U.S. Postal Service, Freehold Center Partnership CEO Richard Gatto said, "It has come to my attention that the U.S. Postal Service has unilaterally decided to imminently abandon its postal unit in Freehold Borough. The U.S. Postal Service has maintained its current facility for the past seven years and has served Freehold Borough very well."



The partnership represents the interests of businesses in the borough.

Gatto said the postal trailer serves the members of the partnership, as well as hundreds of other professionals who have their offices in town.

"This unit is also patronized by heavy pedestrian traffic from within the borough, as well as by residents from the east side of Freehold Township," Gatto said in his letter to Potter.

He said the postal trailer is in the county seat and serves many governmental offices, as well as the Monmouth County Court House.

"The nearest postal facility is almost 2 miles away in Freehold Township. The township postal unit is located adjacent to a highly congested road within a highly congested shopping center and is poorly accessible and the customer service time is often excessive," Gatto wrote.

He said the access road to the Freehold Township post office and the available parking are over capacity. He said he believes the increased use of that facility will cause a "severe and excessive burden" to the patrons of both facilities.

In closing his letter, Gatto questioned how the postal service can close a postal unit without surveying its patrons or at least holding a public hearing to discuss the proposal and/or to consider potential viable alternatives.

On behalf of the partnership, Gatto requested Potter's

immediate intervention in the

matter.

"The closing of this postal unit would have severe and irreversible consequences to the businesses and residents of the borough of Freehold," he wrote.

Freehold Township officials passed a resolution on Feb. 10 to support the continuance of the postal services in Freehold Borough.

The township's resolution states that Freehold Borough is "seriously concerned with the consolidation order issued by the U.S. Postmaster General, as the closure of the Freehold Borough postal center would be a major inconvenience to local residents, businesses, senior citizens, local municipal and county government and employees."

It states that the postal center (trailer) on Lafayette Street is "cost-effectively managed and requires no actual rental or lease payment operations" since Monmouth County provides the land to accommodate the trailer.

The Township Committee declares its support of the operation of the facility in Freehold Borough and states that removing it will cause a "hardship for many residents who will find it difficult to avail themselves of the Raintree (postal) facility in Freehold Township."

Contact Clare Marie Celano

at [e-mail]

[admin]

I find this all amazing. Not only do we not have a permanent post office, besides the trailer, but we may even lose that! It is good to see the FPC stepping up. Considering the township is vocal, I have to wonder why there were mention or quotes from our borough leaders on the council? I would expect them to rightfully jump on this too.

[admin]

Feb 22, 2009 10:57:16 GMT -5 admin said:

I find this all amazing. Not only do we not have a permanent post office, besides the trailer, but we may even lose that! It is good to see the FPC stepping up. Considering the township is vocal, I have to wonder why there were mention or quotes from our borough leaders on the council? I would expect them to rightfully jump on this too.

From a good source I have found out that the council did indeed express many concerns over this issue. I doubt the omission was the fault of the reporter, Kim Predham. I do have reason to believe that quotes from the borough council were cut out during the ediding process. This happens in the APP quite often.

[admin]

They speak! It figures we had to wait for the news transcript.....

newstranscript.gmnews.com/news/2009/0225/front_page/018.html

Freehold seeks Smith's help to keep postal unit
USPS rep says agency is under directive to rein in costs
BY CLARE MARIE CELANO Staff Writer


FREEHOLD — Borough officials are gearing up for the effort it will take to keep a postal facility in town.

One step municipal officials have taken is to reach out to Congressman Christopher Smith (R-N.J.), whose district includes Freehold Borough.

A member of Smith's staff told the News Transcript this week that the congressman is examining the issue.

Freehold Borough has been served for seven years by a United States Postal Service (USPS) trailer that was placed in a Monmouth County parking lot on Lafayette Street behind the Monmouth County Hall of Records. All postal services are available at that trailer.



USPS officials have acknowledged in the past two weeks that they may be looking to remove that trailer and to consolidate services for Freehold Borough and Freehold Township in the post office at the Raintree shopping center, Route 537, Freehold Township.

Speaking at the Feb. 17 meeting of the Borough Council, Mayor Michael Wilson said he has reached out to Smith for assistance in keeping the postal office open in the borough.

He said the town has "seen this fight before."

"We've got to win this one again. To have a county seat without a post office is asinine," the mayor said, referring to the fact that Freehold Borough is the county seat of Monmouth County.

Officials passed a resolution on Feb. 17 supporting the continuation of the Freehold Borough postal facility. All of the council members voiced their strong opposition to the removal of that service. The resolution states that the closure of the postal unit would "present a major inconvenience to local residents, businesses, senior citizens, the municipal and county governments and their employees."

The resolution states that the action will create a hardship for residents who will find it difficult to reach the post office in Freehold Township. It states that the trailer which houses the postal unit is "cost-effectively managed" and requires no real rent or lease payment for operation since Monmouth County provides the land to accommodate the trailer.

Jeff Sagnip, a spokesman for Smith, said the congressman was not happy to hear about the possible closure of the postal facility in Freehold Borough.

"The congressman has reached out to post office officials and requested a meeting where he will present the downside of closing the post office to residents and business in the bor- ough," Sagnip said.

He said that meeting should take place within the next few weeks.

"The congressman feels it is not right to eliminate something the town sorely needs. He will stay on top of this," the spokesman said. Sagnip said the possible closure of Freehold Borough's post office trailer caused Smith to be alarmed because the congressman noted that it would be unprecedented for a municipality that is a county seat not to have a post office.

"Every one of our county seats in all 21 counties has a post office," he said. "Out of all 21 counties, eight municipalities are even smaller than Freehold Borough and still maintain post offices. It was a good decision seven years ago to put the trailer there. It was the right thing to do."

Sagnip said once a post office closes in a town, it rarely reopens. He acknowledged that the Raintree post office is about 2 miles from Freehold Borough and that consolidating the two post offices would bring added traffic to an already congested shopping center.

Darlene Reid, a spokeswoman for the USPS, said although no decision has been made yet to close the Freehold Borough postal trailer, postal officials have been mandated by the U.S. Postmaster General to "efficiently streamline operations and cut costs where they can."

"We are trying to manage our costs," she said. "The post office fell an unprecedented 9.5 billion pieces of mail last year. We had a $2.8 billion net operating loss last year."

Reid said locally, mail service has dropped 12.2 percent in Freehold.

"Many people do not realize that (the USPS) is a self-supporting agency. There have been no tax dollars since 1970. It all comes from our postal sales," she said.

Reid said Leonard Oaks, the postmaster of the Freehold Township post office, has "put out a call to action to manage this problem."

"That trailer (on Lafayette Street) was only meant to be a temporary structure. It was never meant to be permanent," she said. "It presents an opportunity to save some costs. We are collecting data on transactions and customer traffic, as well as the cost of transporting the mail back and forth" between the Freehold Township and Freehold Borough facilities.

Reid said district manager Priscilla Maney will be reaching out to local officials for a proactive meeting to discuss the issue.

"It's these tough economic times," the spokeswoman said. "It is affecting everything"

The postal trailer in Freehold Borough provides 780 post office boxes. Reid said 417 of the boxes are rented at the present time. If the Freehold Borough postal trailer closes, the Raintree facility will accommodate those 417 customers.

At a meeting on Feb. 10, the Township Committee in Freehold Township passed a resolution supporting the continued operation of Freehold Borough's postal facility.

[admin]

Feb 25, 2009 8:26:41 GMT -5 lisas84 said:

Brian, the media is a very finicky animal. I would surmise that if the APP reached out directly to any of them, a quote or two would have appeared.

It depends upon the reporter and his/her editor how a story is handled and shaped, along with who is quoted and how those quotes are woven into the article.

Sometimes, reporters and editors (being human) make mistakes.

I am well aware and what you wrote definately applies to the APP. I had a hunch that the lack of borough council quotes was an editor issue. I don't even think Kim is at fault here.

Even as of recent in other issues, I have seen just how lopsided the APP can be. That is one paper where it is crucial to read betwen the lines.

[admin]

www.app.com/article/20090218/OPINION01/902180325/1029/opinion

Don't shutter postal trailer
ASBURY PARK PRESS EDITORIAL • February 18, 2009

The county seat of Monmouth could be without a post office if the U.S. Postal Service decides it can better "manage costs" by shutting down the trailer that now serves Freehold Borough and redirecting customers to the Freehold Township branch more than two miles away.



That a bustling county seat, with its courthouse, hall of records, county government, associated agencies and related businesses, isn't seen as a profitable enough locale for a post office says more about inefficiency on the part of the Postal Service than anything else.

Officials in both the township and borough are rightly up in arms, protesting the fact the Postal Service is even considering shuttering the post office on Lafayette Street. So is U.S. Rep. Christopher H. Smith, R-N.J., who strongly opposes the closure. And so are local business owners and residents, who have asked the postmaster general to intervene.

Closing the post office is something the Postal Service is "just starting to look into," according to spokeswoman Darleen Reid-DiMeo. Instead, it should look into the efficiency of its operations and how it could better serve customers while cutting costs by eliminating waste.

Would forcing people who live and work in Freehold Borough to drive more than two miles away on chronically congested roads be efficient? Would jamming more than 400 additional borough post boxes into the already-overcrowded township post office on Village Center Drive be efficient? Would adding that many extra routes to the township's substantial delivery burden be efficient? Hardly.

What the Postal Service needs to do is rethink its policies and strategies in the face of declining business and revenues. Far too few post offices offer anything more than old-time banker's hours. Staggered window hours, to allow customers to stop at the post office early in the morning before work or in the evening after work, would better serve a suburban population. Staffing schedules that show concern for peak business hours, and postal customers' limited time to wait on line, is another way to increase efficiency.

There have been postal rate increases each of the last three years and postal officials say they will need another one this spring — along with a day off from mail delivery, reducing that key part of its service to just five days a week. Raising prices while reducing services is not the way for the Postal Service to win back disgruntled customers. Eliminating waste and offering a more customer-friendly, convenient schedule might be.

All those options, and more, must be explored before the Postal Service even thinks of stripping a county seat in New Jersey of its lone post office.