P.O. boxes, other services could move ad hoc
By Liz Schevtchuk Armstrong
Key U.S. Postal Service functions might move ad hoc to the VFW building in Cold Spring, as an effort to retain a post office in the village, Philipstown Supervisor Richard Shea revealed at the end of a routine 2014 budget-setting workshop Thursday night (Oct. 24).
The town government owns the VFW building, which consists of a large public meeting room and a separate, smaller unit used by Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) members from Post 2362. Although a bit worn and drab inside, the large hall has been used for village and town government board meetings and served as an election polling station for a time.
Shea said the idea of housing some basic USPS features there originated with a question about relocating the panel of post-office boxes – the private mail cubbyholes rented by customers – to the VFW. He said that not only the postal boxes, but perhaps other customer services could operate from the VFW while attempts to find a permanent home for the post office go forward. The post office has long been considered a tenant for the mixed-used complex envisioned as in the old Butterfield Hospital redevelopment, a project which remains in the planning phase.
“It’s not like we’re sitting idly by” as the clock ticks down on the current post office lease, expected to run out around the end of November, and letting an important public service vanish from Cold Spring, Shea told his Town Board colleagues. He said he intended to discuss the matter in further detail with USPS officials the following day (Oct. 25).
“I think it would be a phenomenal use of the space,” Town Board Member John Van Tassel said on hearing the news.
Shea said putting a USPS office at the VFW site would not affect activities of the veterans, who could continue to use their own headquarters there.
Parking for trucks and patrons? Access to building for large mail trucks? Liability for the town? Increased traffic on one-way streets? I realize the clock is ticking. But think a second before jumping on this bandwagon. If the village did not spend so much time bickering amongst one another this problem would have been solved years ago. There were multiple sites made available over the years. But selfishness and dumb politics never let them come to fruition. The town has its own issues to solve. We as village residents appreciate the offer. But we have to work it out as a village. Sadly, this might never happen due to the sad state of affairs here among the populace.
As a resident of Constitution Drive, I strongly oppose this possible move. We have enough problems with parking at the VFW Hall. Now with the Foundry open we will have even more problems. The village government needs to step up and reject this idea on safety issues alone.
Here’s a thought: if the fire department moves out of its Main Street building, maybe it can be re-purposed to make a senior center and a post office. What better use for that facility? Not to mention that they probably have a kitchen and cooking facilities, truck and vehicle storage and plenty of room. Of course, for my money, I still think the Butterfield site and the Guillaro project make the most sense, but from where I sit, doesn’t look like that’s gonna happen any time soon.