Community Corner

[Updated]: New Canaan Still has Post Office—You Just Might Need to Travel to Mail a Letter

Update, 2:45 p.m.

New Canaan Patch was not the only one to notice the closure of the Post Office's mobile unit. Patch has obtained correspondences between First Selectman Robert Mallozzi III, other town officials and post office officials detailing his disappointment with their handling of the move.

In the correspondences, Mallozzi's office details how the Town Clerk and Chamber of Commerce have been inundated with calls from residents complaining about the closure of the mobile unit Wednesday and Thursday due to a lack of heat. He said residents are requesting information on where they should take their services or when the unit might soon be opened.

Mallozzi not only said in the emails he was disappointed with the closures, but told post office officials he has found the entire process to be unnecessarily frustrating:

"I need to voice another serious concern. Mail is jammed packed in the 3 receptacles by the [mobile] unit. Please get out there and service those mail boxes. 

The effort put forth by the Postal Service in managing the transition to a temporary location is absolutely unacceptable, unconscionable[,] and will not be tolerated. 

Please contact me directly if a remedy is not in the [works] ASAP."

The Postal Service responded to Mallozzi just before 3 p.m. on Thursday apologizing for the delay:

"I have arranged for someone to go an empty the mail receptacles at the mobile unit," said Barbara R Mastroianni, Post Office Review Coordinator, in response. "I would like to apologize for the inconvenience that the New Canaan community is experiencing at this time."

Orig. Story

The New Canaan Post Office is getting settled into its new, albeit temporary, home along Main Street after moving out of the former Pine Street location it had occupied for so many years.

The new location, at 90 Main Street, was found to be a suitable temporary location for the office after the lease expired at their previous 2 Pine Street location and the federal service and landlord could not reach an agreement for renewal.

"Everything went very smoothly," said Christine Dugas, the U.S. Postal Service Northeast Area Communications Program Specialist. "The customers seem to be happy, so we're happy."

The move has not been without hiccups, however. The Main Street location, while a suitable location for residents to retrieve PO Box mail or the pick up of accountable, did not have the necessary space or capabilities to handle the retail needs of the community. In order to continue serving New Canaan to the fullest capacity, a mobile unit was placed directly across the street from the post office's former location along Pine Street.

On Thursday, however, with temperatures hovering in the teens, that mobile unit was not open and functioning. Residents who drove or walked down to the mobile retail unit to purchase stamps or other needs were met with a sign apologizing for technical difficulties and directing them to visit Walgreens for stamps or head to the 24 Camp Avenue location in Stamford, or to Darien, Wilton or Norwalk for full mail services. Customers who visit the Main Street location to mail a letter without visiting one of these places beforehand will not be able to accomplish that goal. 

"We're trying to get a technician out as soon as possible," Dugas said. "It has to do with an issue we had with some electronic equipment there. We're working feverishly to get it functioning properly and opened up."

Dugas said more information about the delayed opening and the cause of the technical difficulties would be available soon. This story will update with any additional comments or information made available.




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