Massachusetts Congressman James P. McGovern (MA-02) and Senators Ed Markey (D-MA) and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) are renewing their call for the United States Postal Service to quickly restore full postal operations in Medway and asking administrators to do a better job of seeking out community feedback following the sudden and unexpected suspension of services at Medway’s main post office in August. 

In a new letter [dated 11-30-2023] to Postmaster General Louis DeJoy, the three lawmakers expressed disappointment with a lack of communication from the USPS and frustration from residents that concerns about parking and accessibility at the existing USPS facility on Village Street in Medway have not been addressed.

 “As the federal representatives of Medway’s constituents, we have heard first-hand the residents’ disappointment with the delay in restoring full postal services to the town, as well as the Postal Service’s insufficient communication on this issue,” wrote the lawmakers in their letter, later noting that the USPS must “urgently select a long-term alternative location for the post office before February 22, 2024.”

 Regulations governing relocating retail postal services require the USPS to make a tentative decision on a long-term relocation site within 180 days of provisional relocation and begin community input procedures, which include identifying the affected community; engaging with local officials; collecting and considering community input; notifying the community of its plan for a new location; and presenting that plan to the community 180 days after the Postal Service suspends services.

 Conversations between the delegation and the USPS through September yielded insufficient results, prompting the lawmakers to publicly write to Postal Service leaders in early October. They urged the USPS to complete the relocation process and open a new full-service post office in Medway as quickly as possible. The lawmakers say the USPS response failed to address many of their concerns, did not lay out a timeline for action, and did not specify how residents’ concerns about parking, accessibility, and disruption of services would be addressed moving forward.

To read the full letter to Postmaster General Louis DeJoy, visit bit.ly/USPSmedway 

Press release provided by Office of James P. McGovern