(Postmaster Robert Trombley has received letters of complaint after the removal of mail collection boxes on Orchard Street. He requested us to print his reply.)

I'm in receipt of your letter dated Oct. 5, 2000, regarding your complaint about the change of collection boxes that we made on Orchard Street. Please allow me to explain why these boxes were changed and why the openings were turned away from the street.

The collection boxes that protrude into the street (known as "Snorkel Boxes"), have been in use for many years. However, increasingly, there have been many automobile accidents that have occurred due to the use of these boxes. Someone would stop on a busy road to mail something and another driver would inadvertently hit the first driver who stopped. Tragically, in some cases these accidents were fatal.

As a result, the Postal Service stopped manufacturing these "Snorkel Boxes" for reasons of safety. We have allowed the boxes on Orchard to remain because it is a quiet street and there have not been any problems with these boxes for many years. However, a short time ago, a vehicle hit one of the boxes and disabled two of the legs. This made the box unsafe to use. Since the box could not be replaced, I had to install a normal collection box at that location. In addition, since the box was hit by a car, and since the turn on the corner is so sharp, I began to have misgivings about keeping the other snorkel box there. So, I removed the second snorkel box (the Local 11030 box). Keeping the boxes facing the curb would present an even greater danger if people got out of their vehicles to deposit mail in the street.

Therefore, I made the decision (which is a postal regulation anyway) to face the boxes toward the sidewalk so that no one would be injured. I personally apologize for any inconvenience this change has caused you and any of our other customers. But I'm sure you would agree that the safety of the town's residents should be our primary concern.

Robert A. Trombley

Postmaster, Manhasset