Burlington Post Office to be subject of Nov. 8 meeting

From Staff Reports

BURLINGTON – The U.S. Postal Service will conduct a public meeting Nov. 8, with the fate of the Burlington Post Office in the balance.

According to postal officials, four main options will be considered for future postal operations in the community:

• Keep the Post Office open, but with fewer hours. Hours would be reduced from eight per day to six per day, with no change to current Saturday hours. Access to post boxes in the office would not be affected.

• Conduct a "discontinuance study" and offer roadside mailbox delivery, with retail and delivery services offered through the rural carrier.

• Conduct a discontinuance study and find an alternate location for postal services, probably in an existing nearby business. The service would likely provide stamps and flat-rate products, with hours of operations possibly increased.

• Conduct a discontinuance study and shut down the Burlington Post Office, with services provided through a nearby post office.

According to the postal service, no decision on the Burlington Post Office will be made until after the Nov. 8 meeting, to be held at 4 p.m. in the gymnasium at Burlington Children's Home. Part of the meeting will address a survey that has been sent to residents and businesses served by the post office.

"At the meeting, local management will share the results of the survey and answer questions," the postal service said in announcing the meeting. "Although survey results will be known and shared, the Postal Service will not make a final decision regarding the office until after the public meeting. This will enable the Postal Service to obtain all community input and opinions, from both the surveys and the meeting before making a final decision."

Anyone who did not receive a survey can pick one up at the Burlington Post Office.

Changes such as those being considered for the Burlington Post Office are part of a nationwide cost-cutting effort that includes the possible elimination of Saturday delivery, as well as closure or reduced hours for hundreds of smaller post offices. The Postal Service ended its most recent fiscal quarter with a net loss of $5.2 billion. While the loss is largely the result of a law that requires the Postal Service to budget for future retiree costs, declining volumes of first class mail continue to significantly reduce operating revenue.