Easton postal facility closure issue continued for more study

(July 23, 2010) An agreement has been reached with the United States Postal Service to delay the decision on the status of the Easton Area Mail Processing Center until at least January, pending a review by a new senior management team appointed by Postmaster General John Potter.

The announcement was made jointly Tuesday by Sens. Barbara A. Mikulski and Benjamin L. Cardin (both D-Md.) and Congressman Frank Kratovil (DMd.), who in a July 15 letter to Postmaster General Potter expressed their frustration and dismay at the Postal Service’s unresponsiveness. They also questioned the basis of the Postal Service’s consideration of consolidating Postal Service operations and demanded a response by July 19.

Under the consolidation plan, the postal service would close the Easton postal processing facility, which would mean mail from the Eastern Shore would go to Baltimore to be processed. Critics of the move believe mail delivery would be slowed because of the time it would take to carry the mail to Baltimore for processing and then return it to the Eastern Shore for delivery.

Postmaster General Potter scheduled a call with Sen. Mikulski for July 20 and then responded to the delegation’s concerns in a letter.

According to that letter, the Maryland Congressional delegation would be given an opportunity to review the consolidation study prior to any final decision being made. In his call, Postmaster General Potter told Mikulski that the public would be allowed to have more input into the process, including additional public hearings, should the new management team decide to pursue consolidation as an option.

In May, the delegation had asked the postmaster general to schedule hearings in Ocean City, Salisbury and Chestertown in addition to the one planned meeting in June in Easton, but the postmaster refused. The Worcester County Commissioners had also asked for additional meetings.

Mikulski said that she was pleased with the outcome of the delegation’s latest letter and the call from the Postmaster General.

“Postmaster General Potter said that there had been a change in leadership at the post office and he now wanted a further review of the situation,” Mikulski said in a press release. “I concurred and said that people have a right to the data on which decisions were being made that would affect their lives and their businesses. He said that when the additional review was complete, if consolidation was still recommended, people throughout the Eastern Shore would have the opportunity to be heard at public meetings.”

“This is very good news for residents of the Eastern Shore,” Cardin said. “It means that their voices have been heard and that the USPS will be reviewing the numerous concerns we have raised regarding service and efficiency before making a final decision.”

“While we’re all looking for places to save money and cut costs, this cannot and should not come at the expense of Eastern Shore residents and businesses,” Kratovil said. “This delay means that Marylanders will have more opportunities to make their voices heard and ask questions, and helps ensure that this final decision is based upon a more complete review of the facts and related impacts.

Mikulski said she would tour the Easton facility in August.