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for larger version       PO Announces Major Changes For Rockaway Routes
Bob Lettiere, the officer in charge of the Rockaway Post Offices, explained the changes at a meeting of the Good Government Regular Democratic Club in Rockaway Park last week. "About 20 carriers will be changing their job assignments starting next Saturday [February 16]," said Lettiere, to a reaction of groans from those in the packed room on February 7. Residents were not happy to hear that more problems, however temporary, could be in the future of Rockaway's postal system.
The changes are a result of the elimination of one job, which caused all the routes to be put up for bid. Off the top of his head, Lettiere said the following would see some changes in mail carriers - four routes in Rockaway Park, two routes in Arverne and eight routes in Far Rockaway. Lettiere encouraged residents to con- tact the supervisor of their local post office the same day, or the day after, they might experience any type of problems with their carrier. "We need you to tell us you're getting mail for 115 Street instead of 116 Street," said Lettiere, who is taking over for Postmaster George Buonocore, who is currently on leave.
Beginning soon, pick up times at collection boxes will be staggered to coincide with the time the driver actually gets to the location. "It will be changed from 9:30 [a.m.] to 11 [a.m.] or 9:30 [a.m.] to 1 [p.m.], if that's the time he actually gets there. This way you will be able to mail your mail later in the day," said Lettiere. He also promised to put two new collection boxes in front of the Rockaway Park post office after complaints from residents that the one box currently there overflows with mail. Lettiere addressed the many complaints at the Far Rockaway Post Office on Mott Avenue. "I will speak to the supervisor to make sure they [the windows] are properly staffed," said Lettiere, about the long lines at that facility. "I didn't realize there was a problem."
"We're looking at staffing and scheduling," said Lettiere. "I did ask for two new career employees to be hired and sent to the Rockaways." He added, "As soon as they approve them, or hire them, or send them we'll get them trained and on the window." The problem, he said, is that the postal service isn't hiring the part-time flexible (PTF) career postal workers he needs. Instead, casual clerks, who are not trained to work the window or sort the mail, are sent as replacements. In January, four of Lettiere's PTF's became full time regular employees, which caused a staffing shortage in Rockaway. He also had to assign two employees, who float between stations, to cover the workload in the shorthanded Arverne office. Lettiere got an earful as he listened to complaints about mail that comes late, is misdirected or doesn't come at all (including medicine); recurring problems with mail that never reaches its destination sent from collection boxes on Beach 116 Street; rudeness of postal employees; and a stamp machine in the Rockaway Beach office that has been out of order for years. "We just got into the Rockaways and we are addressing the majority of the things you are complaining about, but it's going to take some time," said Maxine Moore, the manager of the Rockaway Park office. "We can't do everything in one week."
Lettiere gave the contact numbers for the post offices in Rockaway. They are Far Rockaway (11691): 718-327- 2512; Arverne (11692) and Breezy Point (11697): 718- 474-6973; Rockaway Beach (11693): 718-634-4075 and Rockaway Park (11694): 718-634- 6057. Customers can also call 1-800- ASK-USPS to register complains.
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