| Oct 04, 2012


A raucous, angry crowd greeted Glen Baldock, a manager at Canada Post who is responsible for the postal outlets in Frontenac County, when he came to a public meeting at St. Paul’s Church in Harrowsmith last Wednesday, September 26.

The list of the complaints that Baldock had to face began with Canada Post closing its franchise outlet in Harrowsmith and extended to the location of the new post boxes that were hastily installed for a September 1 opening.

The post boxes for the entire village are located at Harrowsmith Centennial Park, which, although it has ample parking, is located some distance from the centre of the hamlet.

Baldock acknowledged that the site was chosen, in consultation with the South Frontenac Public Works department, near the end of August, and without consulting the local community.

“The truth is that we expected to have a new franchise until the end of August, and that’s why it was a scramble to find a location for the boxes,” Baldock said. “From my perspective there are positives to that location. It is an excellent location in terms of safety. But I understand it is in the north end of town. I am open to other suggestions, but only if they are viable alternatives.”

Baldock added that ever since Canada Post realised they could not come to a new franchise agreement with former franchisees Kevin and Margie Lee in February, they had been looking for another suitable franchise agreement, but they had no success.

“That’s because you offered them less than they were making before,” someone in the audience called out in response.

The point was taken up later in the meeting by South Frontenac Councilor Bill Robinson, who said, “If the Post Office had decided to give those people a few paltry dollars instead of putting them out of business, they wouldn’t have had to spend thousands of dollars setting up those boxes in the first place.”

“Quite frankly post office franchises are not money makers on their own. The profit is in bringing customers into the store. That’s why there are so many franchises in Shopper’s Drug Marts. They make money selling other products to people who come in for the post offices,” said Glen Baldock.

Two local business owners questioned how hard Canada Post really tried to find a new location for the franchise.

"I own the former Post Office `building, across the street, and I was never approached to see if I wanted to take it on," said Mary Greenage of the Harrowsmith Business Centre. Heather Spencer from Harrowsmith Horse Country next door said she had not been approached either.

“I wasn’t involved in that part,” said Baldock, "but hours of operation play a part in decisions about who to approach. I should re-state that the intent was not to close that post office. That was a last resort essentially. I will meet with anybody that has a legitimate interest and potential to open up a franchise.”

A number of people said they were not comfortable walking to the mail boxes at night, some for safety reasons. Others said that some of the seniors in Harrowsmith were unable to walk to the park to get their mail.

Baldock also said that he would accept any proposals about new locations for the boxes and about setting up a stamp kiosk somewhere in the hamlet, or selling stamps at a retail location.

Brenda Crawford, who along with Anne Elvins had been instrumental in setting up the meeting, asked Glen Baldock if he would commit to coming to another meeting in a month to update the community on what progress has been made.

Baldock said that he did not see the point of coming to another meeting at a specific time because he might not have anything to offer in one month.

“I’m not trying to get out of another meeting, believe me; I really enjoy this,” he said, “but unless there has been progress, why have one? I will commit to communicating with Brenda, and she can let everyone know where things are at.”

“You’ve heard us now, and I can assure that we are not going to let it rest,” Brenda Crawford said in response.

“I get that impression,” Baldock replied.

 

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