City Council Opts Not To Appeal Post Office Relocation

Saying the United States Postal Service has addressed potential concerns involving a plan to sell the Masonic Street post office, the City Council unanimously voted Monday not to appeal the process.

The USPS plan calls for retail and customer service operations to be moved to a “right sized space” within downtown New London. Delivery services would be consolidated at the Waterford postal facility.

The 46,000 square foot building at 27 Masonic Street was built in the 1930s after demand for postal services outgrew a State Street location. It has since been placed on the National Register of Historic Places and includes a number of murals painted by artist Thomas La Farge during the New Deal.

Thomas J. Mulvey, a real estate specialist with the USPS, said a decision was made to proceed with selling the Masonic Street building following a public comment period. However, the building would not be sold before the USPS determined a new site for postal services and the move to a right sized space would not take place without a confirmed buyer for the Masonic Street building.

Mulvey said a sale agreement for the Masonic Street building would also include an agreement for protections on the La Farge murals to be maintained in perpetuity. He also said the move would not eliminate postal services in New London and that no local USPS jobs would be lost as a result of the change.

The appeal period for the decision expires on June 23, and a decision on relocating services would not be final until it is reviewed by the vice president of USPS Facilities.

Council President Michael Passero said there are several safeguards built into the process and that there will be other opportunities to raise objections to the plan if any occur.

“I’m reassured that there are enough protections in the process that they’re following that moving forward with the plan would not jeopardize the city,” he said.

Councilor Adam Sprecace said he was also satisfied with the terms of the plan.

“I was reassured that the process is moving forward appropriately and the proper precautions are in place,” he said.  

Residents may share their opinion on the plan by writing to the Vice President of Facilities, courtesy of Facilities Implementation, 2 Congress Street Room 8, Milford, Mass., 01757.

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