HAMPDEN – At the close of Sept. 2017 Reminder Publications reported residents in Hampden were experiencing increasingly problematic mail delivery.  Some residents were receiving their neighbor’s mail, some were receiving resident’s mail from across town and others weren’t receiving their mail at all.  Now, four months later, Hampden residents are still struggling with their United States Postal Service (USPS) delivery.

The East Longmeadow USPS location at 119 Industrial Dr. is where all of Hampden’s mail is sorted and is subsequently handed-off to carriers for delivery.  When Reminder Publications spoke with East Longmeadow USPS employee Ron Roberts in the fall, Roberts said there were two regular carriers for the town of Hampden as well as at least one substitute carrier who was in frequent use.

USPS Strategic Communications Specialist Christine Dugas noted that East Longmeadow Post Office had a new Acting Postmaster, Phil Fortin, who “is dedicated to finding a resolution to any delivery concerns in Hampden, as he oversees the carriers who deliver there.”  

Dugas wrote in an email exchange in September, “While we have not received many customer complaints in Hampden, Mr. Fortin would like to hear from any customers who are having issues so he may address them.  Customers should contact him, rather than Facebook, about their concerns.  We appreciate hearing about concerns directly from our customers because if we don’t know about it, we can’t fix it.”

The ‘01036: The Hampden Massachusetts Occasional’ Facebook page has become a place where residents go to discuss town goings-on, and over the past months, share their mail delivery struggles with other town members.

The most recent discussion, on Jan. 8, one resident shared her experience with mail delivery to the page.

“Today, for the second time, I was waiting for a signature required package.  I signed up for USPS text message alerts as well as tracking by email.  My text message alerts stated that the package was out for delivery at 8:48 a.m.  At 2:30 I watched the mail truck pull up to my mailbox.  I opened the front door, from which the mailbox is visible, expecting the mail person to come to the door. Instead I watched her put a slip in the mailbox stating that no one was home to sign and immediately the text alert came through saying the same thing.  I then followed her to my neighbor’s house and asked where the package was.  Both cars were in the driveway.  She had the package (an electronic item) on the floor between her door and seat.  When I questioned why she didn’t come to the door she had no response.  Not ok that my eight and a half month pregnant self has to chase this package down. ­ Waiting for a call back from East Longmeadow.  Why is this repeatedly ok?” Katie Lanzoni wrote.

Comments from other residents ensued.

“My package was left on the snow bank 200 [feet] from my front door, could have easily been stolen!” John DuBois said.

“We returned home from dinner Saturday night to find our package in the road in front of our mailbox,” Barbara Shea Plante commented.

“Received a letter today which obviously was delivered somewhere else first and rewrote the number on the front.  Glad I pay my bills online or I would probably be screwed.  But I know when they need to get paid and what comes when,” Joyce Zimmerman replied.

Lanzoni later offered an update to her post, explaining that the Postmaster came to her home and asked that all problems be reported.

“He wanted to see for himself that the property was clear and there was no reason not to deliver.  He said he wants to hear about every issue even if it’s a coupon or flyer delivered to the wrong person and that he doesn’t want people delivering their neighbors mail but to call and they’ll come get it.  We will see what happens,” Lanzoni wrote.

In light of recent complaints, Dugas offered a statement from the postal service to Reminder Publications.

“In Hampden, postal managers are working to resolve mailing issues that local residents bring to our attention.  To speed that review, customers should contact the Postal Service directly so that each incident is thoroughly researched.  That timely exchange determines what actions are needed to resolve the issue. Managers can look at delivery schedules, bar coding on envelopes or even conduct real-time review of delivery conditions that may impact success.

“As always, we look for customers to join us in a partnership for good delivery.  This includes clearing curbside boxes so that the mail truck can pull up to the box, deposit the mail and merge back into the roadway without backing up.  If customers are expecting a package, the pathway to the door should be cleared and slated or sanded to keep the carriers from harm. Again, we urge any customer who has a complaint, or even a compliment, to contact their Postmaster or the Hartford Consumer Affairs office at 860-524-6398.  Please leave your name, daytime telephone number and a description of the issue.”

The East Longmeadow Post Office is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:45 p.m., and on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.  To call and report incorrectly delivered or missing mail, call the East Longmeadow Post Office at 525-8855.