USPS surveys Summit on PO cuts

6/17/2014

By Patsy Nicosia

United States Postal customers in Summit are being asked to comment on plans that would keep their post office open-but with reduced hours.
PO customers received a letter and a survey last week asking for feedback on hours and other options-including closing the PO-as part of the USPS's POST PLAN, an effort to keep existing post offices in place, but with modified hours to match customer use.
According to USPS spokesman Maureen Marion, the intent is to match retail hours with customer use.
Access to PO boxes can remain unchanged, she said, and the local zip code and community identity are retained.
In Summit, Ms. Marion said, proposed changes would cut window hours from 7 1/2 hours daily to 6 hours a day, Monday-Friday.
There would be no change in Saturday hours.
The survey asks customers which hours are best and whether they prefer another option-including the option to close the office and move to a rural letter carrier.
"In our experience, few communities opt for this choice," Ms. Marion said, and there is no plan to close the Summit PO, "but we do offer it as an option to consider."
At a meeting in the Summit Post Office lobby at 2pm, Thursday, July 10, local managers from the Postal Service will be on hand to discuss the results of the surverys and well as the new hours for the Summit Post Office and to take questions.
"This is yet another opportunity for community input," Ms. Marion said; a final decision won't be made until after the meeting, however there will be some change in hours.
West Fulton USPS customers will have a similar meeting on Friday, July 11, to discuss changes in hours to two hours a day, Monday-Friday.
Currently, weekday hours are 8am-1pm, and 2-4:30pm.
Saturday hours would remain unchanged at 8:30-11:30am.
In January 2013, hours at the Charlotteville Post Office were moved to four hours on weekdays, and in February '13, hours at the North Blenheim Post Office were moved to two hours on weekdays.