Date: Fri 17-Jan-1997

Publication: Bee

Author: KAAREN

Quick Words:

USPS-Botsford-Post-Office

Full Text:

w/photo : USPS To Expand Botsford Post Office

B Y K AAREN V ALENTA

The US Postal Service has decided that Botsford needs a larger post office.

First Selectman Bob Cascella received a letter last week from William F.

Cournoyer, manager of post office operations, informing him that the postal

service has determined that the present post office at 320 South Main Street

is inadequate to serve Botsford's future postal needs.

"We wish to establish a new facility which will enhance both the quality of

postal services we provide to your community and our employees' working

conditions," Mr Cournoyer said.

He said that after consulting with Botsford Postmaster Charles Hermanson, the

postal service determined that the new building should contain approximately

2,500 square feet of interior space and be on a site that is between 2,500 and

3,200 square feet.

"Also, we propose that the facility be located within one mile of the existing

office," Mr Cournoyer said.

The post office is in an 800-square-foot building owned by Simon Agri of

Brookfield, who built it about 40 years ago. Originally Mr Agri had a woodwork

and cabinet business in part of the building but the post office later took

over the entire space. The building currently is for sale.

"The sale of the building wouldn't necessarily impact the post office - it

would just mean a change of landlords," Mr Hermanson said. "But we definitely

need more space - particularly storage space."

The Botsford Post Office has 400 postal boxes and could use more, he said, but

the biggest need is for space to store supplies such as express and priority

mail envelopes, padded envelopes, boxes and other items which are sold to the

public. The post office also needs to add electronic scales and other

equipment but has insufficient counter space to do this, he said.

No deliveries are made from the Botsford Post Office; all carrier routes

originate from the large postal facility on Commerce Road.

Mr Hermanson said he was surprised that the postal service acted so quickly

after making its five-year projection. The postal service is in the second

year of a five-year lease on the building.

"The (postal service) will keep us because we make money," he said. "We come

out in the black each year. But they aren't going to build a new building

because they already have the new facility on Commerce Road. We can't move to

Monroe and Hawleyville is only eight miles away, so we are already in a good

location on Route 25."

Mr Hermanson said that Richard Latouf who owns RJL Woodworking, a company

located in the building behind the post office, has expressed an interest in

buying the post office building.

"If this happens, he may add retail stores and we could move in there. If that

doesn't happen, we will have to find another location. The final decision will

be made by the postal real estate division in Windsor," he said.

Mr Latouf was not available for comment. A message on his answering machine

said he is away and his business will reopen after January 17.

Mr Cournoyer said the postal service wants to work closely with the community

to achieve a "mutually beneficial" postal facility. He asked Mr Cascella to

direct any comments, questions or suggestions to James A. Hickey, a real

estate specialist in the postal service office in Windsor.