A new post office could be returning to Hereford. Representatives from the United States Postal Service have scheduled a public meeting next month in the township. They hope to communicate with residents to discuss post office options, according to USPS spokesperson Karen Mazurkiewicz.

            The meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. on Dec. 11 at the Hereford Volunteer Fire Company, located at 1153 Gravel Pike. At least one representative from the agency's real estate department will attend, according to Mazurkiewicz. She called the event the first step to establishing a new post office in the township.

            "The plan was always to reestablish a post office in Hereford," Mazurkiewicz said. "Generally we never close an office permanently."

            In March, the USPS closed its office at 43 Star Road. The federal agency implemented an emergency suspension at the location because it could not reach a new lease agreement with the property owner, Tamas Logic, Inc., a Massachusetts company.

            Supervisor John Membrino welcomes the process that could create a new post office in the township. On Monday, he said several residents have informed municipal officials that their mail has gotten lost or not been received in a timely manner.

            "Getting a post office back in the township is a very important issue for the residents," Membrino said. "When we lost the office, the community kind of lost its identity. This entire process is very much worthwhile."

            According to Mazurkiewicz, the agency invoked its process when the Hereford office closed eight months ago. She said that initially included making sure the residents receive delivery from the Alburtis office and hosting PO boxes in Palm.  The second step involved evaluating the needs of the community. The public meeting represents the third step in that process. The spokesperson could not provide a timeline for when a new office might open in Hereford.

            "There's no way to tell how long it would take to get another post office operational,"

            Mazurkiewicz said. "There are so many variables. The meeting is a great first step."

            Membrino expressed a preference to locate the post office at the fire company. He claimed the discussion between the company and the post office is "pretty serious." 

            Fire company members have exchanged emails with USPS officials on the proposal, according to Dean  Marks, vice president of Hereford Volunteer Fire Company. He described the facility as ideal due to its proximity to Gravel Pike, a large parking lot and handicap accessibility. All options are being considered about possible location sites, according to an email message from Mazurkiewicz.

            Additionally, for 30 days after the public meeting, anyone may submit written comments to the address below for the Postal Service's consideration prior to its final decision.  They can be sent to David M. Wolff, a real estate specialist for the USPS of its Facilities Service Office, at PO Box 27497, Greensboro, NC 27498-1103 by mail or to him at david.m.wolff@usps.gov.

            A fire on Dec. 25, 2017 at the facility, located at the intersection of Route 100 and Seisholtzville Road and attached to the Turkey Hill, closed the post office for 11 months. It reopened Nov. 19, 2018.

            "That wasn't the ideal location for a post office," Membrino said.