Residents Urge U.S. Postal Service to Keep Post Office in Tariffville

The Tariffville community came together Tuesday night in a fight to keep a post office open in the village. 

During a standing-room-only public hearing at the , resident after resident urged representatives in attendance from the U.S. Postal Service — Beau LeBouef, manager of post office operations, and Maureen Marion, public affairs specialist — to keep a post office in Tariffville. 

“I don’t think it’s fair to balance the federal budget for the post office on the backs of the Tariffville residents,” said First Selectman Mary Glassman.

Marion said the postal services lost $8.5 billion last year and expects to lose anther $7 billion this year. 

“We understand that you have budget needs," Glassman said. "That’s why we proposed alternate locations that were cheaper than what you’re paying right now.”

The Postal Service has vacated the property at 39 Main St., but two locations within the village have been suggested as alternates — 14 Winthrop St. and 38 Main St.

Marion said the postal service real estate team would look at the sites that have been proposed.

Glassman said the Simsbury Post Office is not adequate to accommodate the amount of work the postal service would have to move from Tariffville. 

Marion stressed to the public that although the former Tariffville Post Office has been vacated, no final decision has been made yet on whether or not to have post office in Tariffville. 

“We do appreciate your input in this process,” she said. “No decisions have been made yet.”

Services at the Tariffville Post Office were suspended on Feb. 4 because of structural concerns with the building, forcing residents to go to Simsbury for their post office needs. The Tariffville Post Office housed roughly 165 rented post office boxes.

Residents voiced concerns about the added business and stress to the three other post offices in town, the lack of financial information presented at the hearing, as well as the benefits to a Tariffville location. 

Liz Kay, a Tariffville resident, said she has been to area post offices where there are long lines and inefficient service, saying, “They’re not happy to see us.”

“They don’t want our business,” she said. “They’re overburdened.”

Resident Jon White asked LeBouef and Marion why they had not come with a profit and loss account of the Tariffville Post Office, adding the way to reduce loss is to keep the profitable post offices open. 

“I think you have been sent into battle without any weaponry,” he said. “Show us the financials."

Resident Mary Beth Tolan drew attention to that fact that the Tariffville Post Office served not only those from the village, but also surrounding towns. She said Route 189 is one of the busiest roads into Hartford.

Robert Johnson, president of the American Postal Workers Union, Greater Connecticut Area Local, urged those who live in the village to stay active in the process and to submit written recommendations to the U.S. Postal Service.

“Be active with this,” he said. “This process does not end here. I think together we can keep the Tariffville Post Office open.”

Amy McLean Salls told the postal service representatives “the Tariffville Village Association is the nucleus that brings us together here.”

“We’re willing to work with you on any level,” she said. 

The meeting ended with no closing comments. No formal time frame was given as to when a decision might be made, or when the Postal Service would look at the two suggested locations.