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.