Bloomville May Get Modular PO

BLOOMVILLE – Members of the Kortright Town Board met Monday, a week later than usual, with a light agenda. They did go into an executive session to begin negotiations with the union for the town highway employees and discussed the fact that the re-establishment of a post office in the hamlet of Bloomville is likely.

Board members authorized a resolution to allow Supervisor George Haynes to sign the necessary paperwork to lease space behind the town hall for a modular post office. One resident questioned why the space underneath the Kortright Town Hall wasn't being utilized. Haynes explained that when the building was constructed, locating a post office underneath the town hall was part of the consideration and it wasn't going to cost the town a lot of money to add the space. However, over the years, the space has been used for voting. Additionally, Haynes said it was not a consideration opted by the United States Postal Service.

People in the hamlet of Bloomville have been without their local Post Office since mid-November of 2020 and many have switched to home delivery. Residents have been inconvenienced by the loss of the local post office, having to travel to Delhi to pick up their mail. The town has attempted to get a post office reinstated but has not had any successful negotiations with possible landlords. The postal service will erect a building similar to the one in Davenport Center.

Haynes also explained it would not be worth it for the town to rent the downstairs of the town hall. It is more cost-effective to rent the land space to the USPS, which will pay $2,000 in lease fees per year and set up will not cost the town anything.

Board members also discussed headstone repairs and they continue to search for someone to come in to repair headstones. Many of the stones are secured in a cement base and cannot be removed. They also discussed removing some tree limbs from some of the cemeteries and agreed to pay Jody Dorosky for additional work beyond mowing the cemeteries. Board members approved renting a small wood chipper for her to remove additional limbs. She also asked about getting large pieces of cut trees removed to allow her better access to mow areas.

Haynes reported that the Delaware County Department of Public Works project is nearing completion.

The town is still without a dog control officer. Anyone interested or who would like to know what it involves may contact Town Clerk Kristen Craft.

The meeting closed with an executive session as the town board began contract negotiations.