Rally to Save the Tariffville Post Office Brings Out Residents

With chants of “save our post office” and signs cleverly stating much the same, the gazebo in Tariffville was the site of a rally to do just that.

About 50 people turned out on a hot Tuesday night to support each other to continue the efforts to save the local post office, which to this community means much more than mail.

Pam Hebert, who has lived in town for 14 years, said one of the things that drew her to Tariffville was the feeling it was a complete village, with a post office you could walk to.

Now, to go to the main office in Simsbury at 932 Hopmeadow Street is “very, very inconvenient,” she said.

Hebert works for a naturopath and mails and receives large packages often. The change has affected her “tremendously.”

Residents are not alone in their fight to keep a post office in Tariffville, and they weren’t alone at the rally. Representatives for U.S. Rep. Chris Murphy and U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal were there, as was First Selectman Mary Glassman, and Deputy First Selectman John K. Hampton — one of the event’s organizers — and Selectman Lisa Heavner.

After an emergency suspension in February due to structural concerns with the building, the U.S. Postal Service has not reopened a branch in Tariffville.

The proposal to close the suspended Tariffville Post Office is available at the Simsbury Post Office. A comment form is available for residents and customers to fill out. The comment period ends July 17.

Don Gladden, who has lived in Tariffville for 10 years, said his family has a mailbox, so he still receives his mail, but the idea of going into town for stamps is unappealing. The closure has also taken away a family activity, as his children would often walk to the post office to buy stamps for the family and while there get a few pieces of candy.

Gladden said he also could leave a letter and a $1 in his mailbox if he didn’t have a stamp and the carrier would take the letter and leave the change. He said he can still do that today, but he knows the carrier has more work now so he hesitates.

Both Dan and his wife, Michelle, said they know their carrier by name and are friendly. But if the postal branch closes permanently it will chip away at the community feeling.

“It’s real village,” Don Gladden said of day-to-day life in Tariffville.

Jane Fenton, who has lived in town more than 30 years, had a post office box at the Tariffville branch and feels the loss acutely. She now has one at the Simsbury Post Office, but she misses seeing the people from Tariffville on a daily basis.

The daily post office visit was a way to catch up with neighbors and check in on the seniors in town. She said she doesn't go to the Simsbury office as often and doesn’t see as many neighbors when she does.

Fenton is concerned about the affect winters and flooding will have on access to the main post office for village residents. She said she feels for the main post office employees as well.

“Were just an extra burden on the post office there,” she said.

When Heavner spoke she echoed many of the sentiments being expressed. It’s about more than the mail; it’s about a place that binds the community together.

Hampton is working with the offices of U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal and U.S. Rep. Chris Murphy in the fight and continues to be in contact with postal representatives. He is also looking at other towns that had success with efforts to keep a post office open, such as in Riverton.

At the rally were the representatives for each politician who deals solely with postal issues. Stephanie Podewell, an aide to Murphy, read a letter from the congressman. In part the letter said, “I will continue to stand with you as we work to maintain a post office in Tariffville.” He went on to say that with the efforts of residents, the selectmen and the Tariffville Village Association he remains “hopeful that with your strong support … we will win this fight.”

Some residents also considered the economics of the closure. Mattie Banzhaf said her husband, Wally, ran a few numbers, which were posted on a sign she was carrying. The round trip from Tariffville to the post office on Hopmeadow Street is 6.8 miles. The Internal Revenue Service reimbursement rate for mileage is 51 cents so that comes out to roughly $3.47 pet trip.

The Banzhafs, who have lived in town more than three decades, use the post office regularly as their son lives in Norway and they send him packages.

The sign also took issue with the statement in the report that said the retail window averaged zero transactions, which is something residents say is inaccurate.

Some people at the rally live in other parts town, such as Joan Durham, who was there with her son, Jonathan, to support Tariffiville’s efforts.

“I’m here to support the good people of Tariffville,” said the West Simsbury resident who was carrying a sign that read in part “Don’t send granny down to Simsbury center for the mail.”

Glassman said time is running out to make comments and urged people to do so. Residents who want to comment need to do so at the main post office in Simsbury (across from the town hall).

At the June 13 meeting of the board of selectmen, Hampton introduced a town resolution officially decrying the closure of the Tariffville branch.

In response, the Postal Service sent a letter to Glassman stating that that the decision involves considering revenue, workload, customer demand and availability of alternatives. The letter went on to say that there were 165 box holders at the location and in the last calendar year the revenue was just over $141,000 and total expenses were $175,400. Some at the rally, including John Nagy, disputed that, saying the post office was profitable.

Once the comment period is over it is not known how long the decision process will take.

Locally, though, the fight will continue. Hampton said he was pleased with the turnout, considering it’s a summer night.

“Tariffville still has a strong voice and we’re not going to give up,” he said.

For more information, contact Hampton at 860-803-4072 or at jhampton@simsbury-ct.gov or Wanda Colman at 860-651-8971 or at wandacolman@hotmail.com.

Visit the Tariffville Village Association web site for up-to-date information at http://www.tariffville.org/.