Effective December 1, 2011, Handbook PO-101, Postal Service-Operated Retail Facilities Discontinuance Guide, is revised to clarify that a postmaster may be responsible for the management of more than one facility, and that the postmaster may assign duties to subordinate personnel, including when the postmaster is not physically present. This revision of Handbook PO-101 also defines “consolidation,” for purposes of the handbook, as the conversion of a Postal Service–operated retail facility into a contractor-operated retail facility; the conversion of one Postal Service–operated retail facility type to another will no longer constitute a “consolidation” for Handbook PO-101 purposes. Corresponding changes are made to other parts of Handbook PO-101 that deal with consolidations. These revisions correspond to changes to 39 CFR Part 241. For further information, see “Post Office Organization and Administration: Establishment, Classification, and Discontinuance” in Federal Register vol. 76, pages 66184–66187.
Handbook PO-101, Postal Service-Operated Retail Facilities Discontinuance Guide
* * * * *
1 Introduction
11 Overview
* * * * *
112 Scope
112.1 General
* * * * *
[Delete item d and insert the following after item c:]
The conversion of a Post Office into, or the replacement of a Post Office with, a classified station or classified branch is not a discontinuance action subject to this handbook. A change in the staffing of a Post Office such that it is staffed only part-time by a postmaster, or not staffed at all by a postmaster but instead by another type of USPS employee, is not a discontinuance action subject to this section. Discontinuance actions pending as of December 1, 2011, that pertain to the conversion of a Post Office to another type of USPS-operated facility are no longer subject to this handbook.
* * * * *
12 Federal Law Regarding Post Office Discontinuances
[Revise title of 121 as follows:]
121 Post Offices
* * * * *
13 Responsibilities
131 Vice President, Delivery and Post Office Operations
[Revise the first sentence of 131 as follows:]
The vice president, Delivery and Post Office Operations (or designee), makes final determinations to discontinue Post Offices, classified stations, and classified branches, if recommended by the district manager.***
* * * * *
2 Feasibility Study
* * * * *
23 Analyzing Service Alternatives
* * * * *
232 Types of Alternate Retail Services
232.1 Consolidation
[Revise 232.1 as follows:]
A consolidation arises when a Postal Service–operated retail facility is replaced with a contractor-operated retail facility.
* * * * *
233 Types of Alternate Delivery Services
233.1 Discontinuance
[Revise the first sentence of 233.1 as follows:]
A discontinuance entails ending operations at a Post Office, classified station, or classified branch.***
* * * * *
3 The Proposal
31 General
311 Discontinuance Coordinator Responsibilities
* * * * *
311.2 Proposal Checklist
[Revise first sentence of 311.2 as follows:]
When investigation of the feasibility of a possible discontinuance reaches the stage where a formal proposal to discontinue a Post Office, classified station, or classified branch is prepared for posting, the discontinuance coordinator must thoroughly review the proposal and supporting record before the 60-day posting period to ensure the former is fully supported by the latter.***
311.3 Log of Post Office Discontinuance Actions
[Revise first sentence of 311.3 as follows:]
The discontinuance coordinator must maintain a log of discontinuance actions for each Post Office, classified station, or classified branch that is investigated for possible discontinuance.***
* * * * *
6 Special Circumstances
61 Suspensions
* * * * *
612 Authority
[Revise the first sentence of 612 as follows:]
District managers may suspend the operations of any Post Office, classified station, or classified branch under their supervision for reasons such as those identified in 611.***
* * * * *
62 Name Change
* * * * *
623 Use of Branch or Station Designation
[Revise the introductory paragraph of 623 as follows:]
Classified stations, classified branches, and non-personnel units are Postal Service–operated subordinate units located within main Post Offices’ service areas to provide one or more services at sites convenient to customers. The staffing of a Post Office with a postmaster on a part-time basis or in concert with another type of personnel does not affect that facility’s status as a Post Office. The definitions of classified stations, classified branches, and non-personnel units are as follows:
* * * * *
63 Merging Facilities
631 Definition
***Coordinators generally define a merge in one of two ways:
[Revise 631a and b as follows:]
a. Two or more towns (each with one or more Post Offices) combined into a single incorporated village, town, or city with one Post Office.
b. Two or more towns (each with one or more Post Offices) combined by building or leasing a replacement facility (centrally located between the existing Post Offices) that serves as the Post Office for all the service areas involved.
* * * * *
64 ZIP Code Elimination
* * * * *
642 Discontinuance
642.1 Community Place Name
[Revise 642.1 as follows:]
In a discontinuance, it is customary to retain the community place name and ZIP Code of the discontinued facility. If it is deemed necessary to eliminate the ZIP Code of the facility proposed for discontinuance, the district manager must submit a request and justification to the vice president, Area Operations, for approval.
* * * * *
642.3 Conversion or Consolidation
[Revise 642.3 as follows:]
When a Postal Service–operated retail facility is consolidated by conversion into a contractor-operated retail facility, the ZIP Code remains the same as that for the discontinued facility. The vice president, Area Operations, must approve ZIP Code elimination for contractor-operated retail facilities. The replacement contractor-operated retail facility can be given the same name of the facility that is replaced, if appropriate in light of the nature of the contract and level of service provided.
* * * * *
643 Consolidation
643.1 Community Place Name and ZIP Code
[Revise 643.1 as follows:]
When a contractor-operated retail facility is established in lieu of a Postal Service–operated retail facility, it is customary to retain the ZIP Code of the discontinued retail facility. Changes in ZIP Codes require the approval of the vice president, Area Operations. The replacement contractor-operated retail facility can be given the same name of the facility that is replaced, if appropriate in light of the nature of the contract and level of service provided.
643.2 Customer Notification
[Revise 643.2 as follows:]
The first notice to customers that consideration is being given to consolidating a Postal Service–operated retail facility and establishing a contractor-operated retail facility, should state clearly that customer addresses will not change (except as approved in accordance with 642).
* * * * *
Appendix A Glossary of Terms
[Revise the entry for “Administrative Post Office” as follows:]
* * * * *
[Revise the entry for “Classified Branch” as follows:]
Classified Branch
|
A retail facility that is Postal Service–operated and is under the administration of an Administrative Post Office. A branch is located outside the corporate limits or city carrier delivery area of the city or town in which the main Post Office is located. The branch name generally supplies the city name used in delivery addresses.
|
[Revise the entry for “Classified Station” as follows:]
Classified Station
|
A retail facility that is Postal Service–operated and is under the administration of an Administrative Post Office. A station is located within the corporate limits or city carrier delivery area of the city or town in which the main Post Office is located. The station name generally does not supply the city name used in delivery addresses.
|
[Revise the entry for “Closing” as follows:]
Closing
|
An action in which operations at a Postal Service–operated retail facility are permanently discontinued without providing a replacement facility in the community. Replacement services are provided by some combination of existing Postal Service– and contractor-operated facilities, contract delivery service, rural delivery service, city delivery service, or alternative access channels.
|
* * * * *
[Revise the entry for “Consolidation” as follows:]
* * * * *
[Revise the entry for “Discontinuance” as follows:]
[Revise the entry for “Docket Number” as follows:]
* * * * *
[Revise the entry for “Final Determination” as follows:]
Final Determination
|
A written decision that is approved by the vice president, Delivery and Post Office Operations, to discontinue a Post Office, classified station, or classified branch. The final determination, based on information in the official supportive administrative record, must be publicly posted for at least 30 days.
|
* * * * *
[Delete the entry for “Independent Post Office.”]
* * * * *
[Add entry for “Post Office” as follows:]
Post Office
|
An organizational entity subordinate to a district, and perhaps also an administrative Post Office, managed by a postmaster, with responsibility for customer services, local delivery, the receipt and dispatch of all classes of mail, and in some instances, processing and distribution of mail for other Post Offices in the surrounding geographic area. A final determination to discontinue a Post Office includes a notice of the opportunity to appeal that decision to the Postal Regulatory Commission.
|
* * * * *
[Revise the entry for “Postal Service–Operated Retail Facility” as follows:]
* * * * *
We will incorporate these revisions into the next printed version of Handbook PO-101 and into the online update available on the Postal Service™ PolicyNet website:
n Go to http://blue.usps.gov.
n Under “Essential Links” in the left-hand column, click PolicyNet.
n On the PolicyNet page, click Handbooks.
(The direct URL for the Postal Service PolicyNet website is http://blue.usps.gov/cpim.)
— Customer Service Operations,
Delivery and Post Office Operations, 12-1-11
