The Tribune recently wrote an editorial supporting a new postal facility for Methuen, and it really was right on the mark. I have had a good meeting with the head honcho’s over at the U.S. Postal Service, and I appreciate the efforts of Congresswoman Tsongas and Senator John Kerry to be helpful. We have identified two prospective downtown sites that might be a fit for the Post Office, and we are facilitating talks between those prospective landlords and the Postal Service. The real problem that we have bumped into is that the Post Office is satisfied and content to stay in the existing facility. With that lease coming up in 2009 the Post Office was preparing to sign a renewal that would leave them in the same spot, and leave us with a substandard facility. We will continue to work to get Methuen a facility that it deserves as well as a West End contract station. It will not be easy, and frankly the odds are against us, but it is worth the effort.
Link to the Tribune editorial here.
Bill Manzi.com 
This issue is confusing. Who has the “power” here? This so called HONCHO is nothing but a glorified postal clerk, a carbuncle in a suit and tie! It seems that there will be no movement on this until he says so. Ten years, through Pollard, Meehan et al and we’re still on square one. “We’ll wait and see what they have to offer.” says the carbuncle. What do we “have to offer?” And just how “helpful has Sen. Kerry and Congresswoman been? Has their participition been limited to a polite letter to the honcho? Methuen, with more than 45,000 residents, gets only two service windows. Even with satellite operations it’s not enough. Is there a zoning problem? What are the two downtown sites being considered? If this can’t be resolved during your term lets just cancel this whole issue and send it to the “dead letter” bin.
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