Tuesday, March 06, 2012YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio -- U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan, D-17 Ohio, wants the U.S. Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe to explain "discrepancies regarding mileage and defficiency ratings" revealed during public meetings Nov. 15 in Akron and Dec. 28 in Youngstown. The issue is whether the Postal Service fully disclosed all of the information upon which it based decisions to close mail processing facilities here and in Akron.
In releasing Ryan's letter to Donahoe to the press, the congressman's office noted the Postal Service's decision to consollidate 223 of its 461 mail processing facilities across the country will cut some 35,000 jobs, and move work performed at the Akron and Youngstown processing facilities to the Cleveland facility.
Here is the text of Ryan's letter to Donahoe:
Dear Postmaster General Donahoe:
I am writing regarding your correspondence dated February 23, 2012, which notified me of the potential consolidation of mail processing facilities in Northeast Ohio beginning this summer.
As you know, the impacted Area Mail Processing (AMP) facilities within my district are located in Youngstown and Akron, Ohio. You have provided an estimate of the annual savings from each closure and consolidation but I have not received any basic information on how these figures were reached. In order to better understand how the United States Postal Service (Postal Service) reached its conclusions, please provide me with a non-redacted copy of each (AMP) Study conducted for the affected facilities within my district.
I have serious reservations about the context of the studies that produced the plan to close and consolidate the Akron & Youngstown facilities as there were apparent discrepancies regarding mileage and efficiency ratings during the November 15th Akron and December 28th Youngstown meetings respectively. Notably, during the Youngstown public meeting, my representative was specifically told the study was based on moving portions of the Youngstown workload into the Pittsburgh Processing Center. However, your letter is showing that the absorbing facility will be the Cleveland Processing Center. I have obtained additional information that suggests this change may have been approved prior to the public meeting. If so, has there been a secondary AMP study of the Youngstown facility to establish a reliable cost basis for the move to the alternative absorbing facility? Though these are difficult times, I believe we owe the postal workers and our constituents the utmost transparency concerning their livelihood.
Also, during each public meeting relative to these proposals, members of the public expressed specific concerns about the cost savings estimates and how they were calculated. I would appreciate knowing how the Postal Service addressed these questions and how public comment was considered during the AMP process.
As you provide this information, I am particularly interested in receiving answers to the following questions:
According to your letter, these consolidations are contingent on the issuance of a final rule revising first class mail standards. The Postal Service filed a request for an advisory opinion with the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) regarding these revised standards on December 5, 2011. The PRC currently has this matter under consideration and is expected to issue their findings once complete.
Many of my constituents believe the Postal Service intends to proceed with these closures immediately following the expiration of the closure moratorium on May 15th. The Postal Service agreed to this moratorium to allow Congress the time to consider postal reform legislation. I would appreciate your assurance that the Postal Service will wait until after the advisory opinion of the PRC has been issued before taking any steps relative to any mail processing facility closure.
The current mail delivery process is a loyal, trustworthy, and successful system. I fully understand the serious nature of the Postal Service’s current financial situation and the need to take immediate action. I sincerely hope the Postal Service does not take actions that would diminish the universal service obligation and undercut our postal-workers, small businesses, and senior citizens who depend upon this vital service. Without accurate data, it is impossible to know the true impact that closing these facilities would have upon efficiency and long-term viability of the Postal Service.
Thank you for your time and attention to this matter. I trust my request will be handled in a timely manner. If you have any questions, please contact Mark Callion in my Warren, Ohio office at 330 373 0074 or email [email protected], and he will be able to assist you.
Published by The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.