Two Mail Units Are in Jeopardy

Satellite Stations at Alley's Store, Edgartown Visitor Center
Could Lose Delivery as Postal Service Continues to Cut Back

By MANDY LOCKE

As the United States Postal Service continues to tighten its belt,
two Island post office satellite locations are in jeopardy.

Delivery service at both Alley's General Store and the
Edgartown Visitors Center on Church street are on the chopping block as
postal officials deal with limited resources.

"It's a reality. It's happening. We've
basically been informed that the West Tisbury post office won't be
able to service the boxes [at Alley's.] Funds weren't there
for the staff person," said Christopher Scott, executive director
of the Martha's Vineyard Preservation Trust, which owns and
manages the general store.

West Tisbury postal clerk Tony Rezendes retired at the end of the
summer, leaving a vacancy that will not be filled. Staff from the West
Tisbury post office stuff Alley's boxes and pick up mail at the
site. Alley's does not charge the postal service rent, Mr. Scott
said.

Mr. Scott said they have yet to alert the 154 boxholders in
Alley's about their options. He was awaiting response from postal
authorities to pleas to maintain the service before deciding what to do
next.

Mr. Scott said Alley's may privatize the service, paying one
of their own store clerks or another person to pick up mail at the post
office and stuff the boxes. That cost then would be passed on to
boxholders.

"We are committed to maintaining postal service at
Alley's for the convenience of the boxholders who have gotten mail
there for decades," said Mr. Scott.

Rural route delivery is also an option for these boxholders, though
they would have to change their address to either Chilmark or Vineyard
Haven, two towns that offer door-to-door service. Or West Tisbury
residents may get on a waitlist for a box in the main West Tisbury
station.

The relationship between Edgartown's Church street substation
and the postal service is a bit different. Tim Toomey, operator of the
substation and the Edgartown Visitor's Center, has contracted
directly with the United States Postal Service for the last 11 years.

Nearly 200 Edgartown boxholders, most of whom live downtown, could
lose the service if the closure goes through.

Mr. Toomey said he was alerted to the issue by a customer earlier
this week. He has since learned from officials the agency will be
weighing the cost benefit of keeping the place running.

"It doesn't make sense. All I know is that I send them
more money than they pay me," Mr. Toomey said. Mr. Toomey sells
postage and can also send packages from the visitor center.

Regional officials evaluated operations at the Church street
location and the Edgartown main station this month.

Edgartown selectmen sent a letter to officials this week protesting
the proposed closure. A small note posted by one Church street boxholder
directs fellow boxholders to call the United States Postal Service to
register complaints.

A postal service spokesman in Providence said yesterday that no
final decisions had been made regarding the two locations. It was
understood, however, that the future of both satellite branches were on
the agenda for a meeting of postal officials in Providence yesterday.

The potential closures come on the heels of a summer when Island
post offices had reduced service hours, complicating lives for customers
trying to pick up mail and, especially, for those trying to claim or
send packages.