Letter To The Editor – Neither Snow Nor Rain…Really?

To the Editor:
On June 30, 2010, we received a folded/stapled paper in our mailbox. This letter was sent by the Postmaster of the Stephentown Post Office. It informed us that the Post Office was “making us aware of hazards and unsafe conditions in the approach of our mailbox and roads.” This letter continued to state that “they value our safety and the safety of our letter carriers.” Also, “The Post Office is very concerned about the condition of your road.” The letter ends, “If we do not have this issue resolved by July 30, 2010, we have no choice but to hold your mail at the Post Office. The Postmaster gave us two options, neither were feasible for us. As of August 1, our mail was no longer delivered to our mailbox.
We live on a country road in beautiful Rensselaer County. This road has undergone many improvements over the years
When I stopped at the Stephentown Post Office, I informed the Postmaster, Angela James, that this letter was absurd! Our Town’s road crew has kept this road in great condition, winter and summer. Our Berlin school bus makes the trip twice daily with the large bus, not a Suburban, and my Record newspaper gets delivered every day rain or shine. Our Town ambulance has had to come to our home in the winter without an issue. United Parcel Service and Fed-ex delivers packages right to our door.
We have had a mailbox at this residence long before my husband or I moved here. There was a time that there were only two homes on our road, and mail was delivered then! Now we have even more homes. I asked the Postmaster who determined the road was unsafe? Is the Town of Stephentown Highway Superintendent aware of this issue? Is the Berlin Central School District aware that the “Federal Government” has decided that this road is hazardous? Does the Stephentown Fire Company know that the homes on our road may not be able to be safely accessed due to road condition? The Postmaster could only say that “they” are working on this issue! I don’t know who “they” are!
I have taught in the Berlin District for 30 years. I am now retired, and I love this area. I have traveled most of our roads and hollows in my tenure here. I don’t know of an area road that is more beautiful or accessible.
I have attempted to call the Postmaster’s supervisor, but my call was not returned. I have attempted to find a solution to this problem. When I last spoke with the Postmaster she informed me that her carrier needs to make the trip up our road even if there is no mail to deliver since there may be a mail pick-up. I simply stated that was easy to fix, just deliver the mail and let the customers on the road know that the carrier may not pick up mail on any given day. The Postmaster/carrier may also decide on a given winter day that the newly fallen snow would cause a problem and that mail may not be delivered daily if weather does not permit. My question is – is our road unsafe or are there not enough residences on the road to make a delivery to our mailboxes?
As “country” folks of Rensselaer County we ask for a simple resolution. Continue to deliver mail to our mailbox when weather permits. If the road conditions are an issue address them with the Stephentown Town Highway Department.
Are there other Stephentown postal customers who have been affected by a similar situations? If our road is the only road targeted, what needs to be done?
I believe this quotation should still be true “Neither snow, nor rain, nor heat, nor gloom of night, nor the winds of change, nor a nation challenged, will stay us from the swift completion of our appointed rounds. Ever.” (from a USPS television commercial created in 2001)
Submitted,
Eileen Murphy-Sharron
Stephentown