by John Isley Guest Contributor
The United States Postal Service has moved quickly to continue closure proceedings of the Woodgate, NY 13494 office.
The Woodgate Post Office received a review report today, Thursday, May 26, of the questionnaires that were mailed to customers on May 5.
The Postal Service reported that 127 questionnaires were distributed and 102 were returned.
Responses regarding the proposed alternate service were as follows:
Favorable – 4, Unfavorable – 59, No opinion – 39.
The Postal Service also held an informational meeting on May 12 which was attended by over 100 patrons.
Comments of that hearing are posted in the post office lobby.
Briand Shepardson, manager of Post Office Operations, stated in his summary of the report that the Woodgate Post Office closure will provide delivery and retail services by rural route service under the administrative reponsibility of the Forestport Post Office.
Shepardson said that effective and regular service will continue to be provided by rural route service, however his report dated May 25, 2011, is not a final closure determination.
The report now allows patrons to obtain another survey from the Woodgate Post Office, who should return it by July 26, 2011, before the final determination order is issued.
Shepardson stated in the report that in taking all available information into consideration, the Postal Service has determined that the advantages outweigh the disadvantages and the proposal to close Woodgate office is warranted.
The report indicated Woodgate office receipts were $52,361 in 2008 and down to $35,957 in 2010.
The Postal Service claims the closure will save them $42,492.
However, the postal service has not addressed the issue of free rural carrier service which carries a sizeable cost factor in personnnel and mileage-with no income to offset its cost.
The disappointing news of the proposed post office closing comes just one week after Congressman William Owens (D-25th District) sent a letter to Patrick Donahoe, Post Master General in Washington, DC calling the idea of closing or consolidation of rural post offices as a “pound foolish” approach that will do little to alleviate the postal services financial difficulties while causing harm to small underserved communities.
“Closing or consolidating rural facilities is not an efficient means for getting your fiscal house in order,” Owens wrote.
A movement to revive the Woodgate Citizens Committee, a committee that successfully defeated the 1976 proposed post office closing, has begun.
The next step for postal patrons will be to return the latest round of Postal Surveys and to move their opposition efforts to the Postal Regultory Commission.
All who are interested in joining the fight to save the Woodgate Post Office are encouraged to attend a meeting at the Woodgate Library on Monday, May 30 at 8 p.m.
