[Williamsport's] Postal Processing Center Closing

By MARK MARONEY (mmaroney@sungazette.com) , Williamsport Sun-Gazette

Barring an act of Congress, the Reach Road facility that processes mail will move to Harrisburg before May 15, according to the U.S. Postal Service.

The decision impacts between 54 and 66 employees.

"That number may go up or down a bit," said Raymond Daiutolo Sr., a Postal Service spokesman based in Bellmawr, N.J.

The Postal Service has experienced a 25 percent decline in first-class mail volume since 2006 and receives no tax dollars for its operations, relying instead on the sale of postage and postal products and services, he added.

It's unknown whether the closing of the city processing center will impact letter carriers in the area, according to Paul Nyman, a representative of Branch 50 of the National Association of Letter Carriers, which represents 180 letter carriers.

"The main impact is on postal workers in the union losing their jobs," Nyman said. "They are the ones with the jobs that process the mail and those jobs will be eliminated."

Any re-assignments will be handled according to collective bargaining agreements.

"Each plant has its own agreement," Daiutolo said.

Nyman worries about the local impact on mail delivery.

"I believe those in the 17701 zip code and 16900 zip code from northern Lycoming County to the New York border, including Wellsboro, Elkland and communities in between, will be impacted because Williamsport's facility processes their mail," Nyman said. "That mail will now have to be sent 150 miles to be processed.

"A sadder part of this decision is the Williamsport mail efficiency rate is at 90 percent while the efficiency in Harrisburg is much lower than that - near the 60 percentile," Nyman said.

He based his assessment on documentation provided at a public forum held in December at the Genetti Hotel.

Nyman said the trickle-down effect will be noticed.

"People who do bulk mailings who can expect the rate to go up in the area because Williamsport was a local drop area for bulk mail and now the only way to get the discount will be to take the mail to Harrisburg," he said.

The decision to transfer operations to Harrisburg won't impact the Williamsport post office retail area on Reach Road.

"Customers will still go there to buy stamps," Daiutolo said. "This decision involves the mail processing operations that take place in the back.

Changes are pending on overnight deliveries, however.

The Postal Service estimates moving the mail processing operation to Harrisburg will save it $3.1 million a year.

"The decision to consolidate mail processing facilities recognizes the urgent need to reduce the size of the national mail processing network to eliminate costly underutilized infrastructure," said Postal Service Chief Operating Officer Megan Brennan. "Consolidating operations is necessary if the Postal Service is to remain viable to provide mail service to the nation."

A commitment had been assured by Congress that the Postal Service won't implement any decisions to close or consolidate mail processing facilities prior to May 15.

That gives Congress and the administration the opportunity to enact an alternative plan, Daiutolo said.

The delay also allows Congress time to enact comprehensive postal legislation.

In the meantime, the Postal Service continued all necessary steps required for the review of these facilities, including public notifications, public input meetings and consideration of public comments.