Liberty permanently closes post office

The office was initially closed after an audit discovered missing money.

By JOHN W. GOODWIN JR.

VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF

LIBERTY — Township residents in need of postal services will now have to visit neighboring communities, with the permanent closing of the township-operated postal service inside the government building.

Pat Ungaro, township administrator, said trustees passed a resolution earlier this week terminating a contract with the post office to provide the service and sent a letter to the post office detailing the termination of the contract.

The postal services here are not operated directly by the United States Postal Service. The township, via a contract with the post office, operates the site, buying all material and hiring all staff, then selling stamps and other needed items to the public.

The township is paid a 7 percent commission from the post office for all items sold.

The postal service had been closed for several weeks after an internal audit discovered more than $19,000 missing. The investigation is ongoing.

According to Ungaro, the missing funds discovered in the audit were “the icing on the cake,” but the township, he said, loses money every year it operates the postal service. The service, he said, has cost the township about $200,000 over the last six years.

“We lose about $30,000 every year. After we get the money from the post office and pay salaries we are still about $25,000 to $30,000 short. This year it was $44,000,” he said. “It’s a great service and everyone loves it, but it comes down to how much money can you justify losing to keep it open.”

Trustees voted 2 to 1 to eliminate the service with Trustee Jack Simon voting to continue providing postal service. Simon said having the service in the government building is worth the money.

“Losing money is one thing, but using money to provide services to the community is how I view it,” he said.

According to Simon, the township employed three people for the postal service — two part-time employees and one full-time employee. He said the full-time employee was set to retire next year and would have been replaced with part-time help, allowing the township to break even on providing the service.

Both Ungaro and Simon agree that the missing funds helped push the township toward eliminating the service because the post office refused to stock the township with any supplies until the money was recovered. A bond held by the township has compensated the post office for the missing money.

Simon said the post office did agree to restock the township office after the money was paid through the bond, but township officials had already decided to eliminate the service by that time.

jgoodwin@vindy.com