With the USPS holding a lease with the township until December, 2013, the future of the post office operations at 271 Clarksville Road remains a wild card. At council’s budget work session on Monday, March 5, Councilman George Borek said that the future of that facility is impacting present decisions.
“Until we know what they’re going to do it makes it very difficult to plan with the budget for what we want to do in the months to come. My personal belief is that I don’t think the post office will stay there. I think that USPS will wait for another location to be constructed and move,” he said.
Borek said he has reached out to Congressman Rush Holt’s office to see if he could initiate a conversation. In an interview Mayor Hsueh said that he continues to negotiate with the federal government to see if the USPS will need a smaller space to operate, in which case a reduced rent could be worked out, or if the terms of a lease can be amended. If that happens there is a possibility that some township offices could occupy part of the space.
The mayor says his principle in negotiations with the federal government is ensuring that at the minimum the USPS maintains a window and minimal services at the municipal complex. Talks have included the possibility of a five-year extension starting in 2014. Hsueh has made it clear, however, that under no circumstances would he allow a new agreement to include a loophole where the USPS could pull out of the space with 90 days notice.
“The goal we are working toward is having some predictability with them and for USPS to continue to provide service to our community,” Hsueh said.
At council’s work session Borek said that the 90-day out clause was a harbinger of the USPS’ intent, and that for right now they might only be looking for a placeholder location.
