The letter directed customers to a Contract Postal Unit in the Fast Stop retail store at 20 Saugatuck Avenue and a nearby newly positioned postal-owned trailer on Saugatuck Avenue that will be available for post office boxes. Questions were swirling about the post office on Tuesday as customers reacted to the news, most expressing regret and alarm.
The closing does not appear to be related to recent statements by the U.S. Postal Service that it was considering closing numerous post offices around the country for economy reasons.
Vicki Reitano, a Westport resident, said, "This is appalling. Saugatuck will be a ghost town with no services left. Look at Bridge Square, with its empty stores. Now this. The Saugatuck Post Office has been part of the community for years."
"This is horrible," said Jane Jason Seymour, who comes to the post office daily for her job at streetmarc, a Franklin Street advertising and marketing firm.
The letter, signed by Guy Polacco, Manager, Post Office operations in Stamford read, "As the postal manager responsible for all post offices in your area, I would like your input concerning a potential change in how your postal services are provided. The recommended change will not lead to a formal proposal unless we conclude that the changes will not have a negative impact on customer service.
"The Saugatuck Station Post Office is in substandard condition. Cost of repairs to this facility may not be warranted. There are three other Post Offices within a three-mile radius."
The letter further states, "effective August 22, 2009, Post Office and Retail Services will be suspended from this facility, at the close of business."
Maureen Marion, Public Affairs Specialist with the post office, said the Saugatuck Post Office was closing because of "environmental and safety issues." She said that the post office had been paying its rent on a month to month basis since November 2008 because repair and maintenance charges "exceeded our obligation for the types of things that needed to be done."
Marion said the post office had thus been anticipating this closure and that the timing was prompted by the sudden availability of a large post office-owned trailer that could accommodate customers so they would not lose their post office boxes, nor have to change their addresses. She also said the Contract Postal Unit in the Fast Stop retail store, located very close to the trailer, would be able to accommodate customers with almost every service available at the post office except the purchase of money orders.
When asked if the change at the post office could be reversible, Marion was unwilling to shut the door firmly, but said, "The change does take place this weekend. We are suspending retail operations at our current location. At this time the detached unit is a temporary facility until we know exactly what we can do in Saugatuck. We are always hoping that the best resolution will come forward. The condition of the building was worn. It was time to consider new options and the detached units give us breathing space."
Marion said that a public meeting would be held in the future to get input from customers.
She added that there are other post offices nearby, including the main post office on Post Road and one in Greens Farms, as well as one in Norwalk. She also said that the three full- time and three part-time employees at the post office would not lose their jobs, but be relocated.
Rumors surfaced last year that the Saugatuck facility could be closed, but postal officials denied the rumors at the time.
Customers with questions were told to call Barbara Mastroianni, Post Office Review Coordinator, at 860 524-6495.