More notice urged in postal closings

WASHINGTON (AP) - When the Postal Service wants to close a local office, it should give residents more notice and an increased chance to air their concerns and comments, the agency that regulates postal affairs said Wednesday.

The Postal Regulatory Commission confirmed that the post office has authority to change its retail offices around the country but urged improvements in the process.

The post office lost $3.8 billion last year, and efforts to reduce spending have included a review of local offices to see which ones can be closed or consolidated.

Currently there are 36,400 retail offices across the country.

Reviews for proposed closings last year drew widespread complaints. Some 162 offices remain under study for closing and more could be added.

Just last week Postmaster General John Potter outlined a series of steps for cutting postal costs including the possibility of opening kiosks and mail counters in retail stores and supermarkets. That way mail service could still be offered in areas where a post office is closed.

In Wednesday's advisory opinion the regulatory commission made several recommendations including:

— Expanding public notice, including soliciting comments earlier and providing longer periods for people to express their opinions.

— Creating a separate category of "community issues" when evaluating a closure.

— More clearly explaining the objectives and need for closures.

— Improving financial analysis of station and branch operations.

— Coordinating planned closures with other local changes, such as reduced hours at other offices or removing collection boxes.

"I urge the Postal Service to take our recommendations to heart and implement them quickly in order to respond to public concerns and build goodwill," said the commission chairman, Ruth Y. Goldway.

Postal revenues have been battered as Americans turn more and more from paper to electronic communications. The number of items handled by the post office fell from 213 billion in 2006 to 177 billion last year. Volume is expected to shrink to 150 billion by 2020.

At the same time, the type of material sent is shifting from first-class mail to the less lucrative standard mail, such as advertising.

As people set up new homes and businesses, the number of places mail must be delivered is constantly increasing as well.

Automation has helped, allowing the post office cut its staff from a peak of about 800,000 to fewer than 600,000 today.

In other efforts to cut costs the agency is seeking to reduce mail delivery from six to five days a week and wants to change the way it finances its medical retirement costs.