As new neighborhoods and subdivisions are being built all over East Tennessee, Congressman Tim Burchett wants to give homeowners have a say in where their mail gets delivered.
Rep. Burchett introduced a resolution last month that would let local groups work with the U.S. Postal Service to decide which type of mailboxes are wanted in the neighborhood.
The legislation, which is called the Easy Access to Mail or H.R. 2158, would enable local entities to work with USPS to determine the type of mailboxes we want in their neighborhoods.
"After I took office, it was brought to my attention that the U.S. Postal Service is requiring many new housing developments in our area to install cluster mailboxes at a central location rather than individual mailboxes in front of residences," Rep. Burchett wrote in a tweet Wednesday.
The resolution wants to amend a subchapter of chapter 36 of title 39, United States Code, to establish rules and procedures for the United States Postal Service regarding the use of centralized delivery of the mail with respect to residential housing units, and for other purposes.
According to the resolution, the term ‘centralized delivery’ means a primary mode of mail delivery whereby mail receptacles of a number of delivery points are grouped or clustered at a single location. The term ‘primary mode of mail delivery’ means the typical method by which the Postal Service delivers letter mail to the delivery point of a postal patron. The term ‘housing development’ means any single-family residential home or townhouse, but does not include any multi-home apartment or condominium building.
The resolution would prohibit the USPS from changing a neighborhood that doesn't have centralized delivery to centralized delivery after the fact.
It would also require the USPS to get approval by local legislators before it could require centralized delivery for a development constructed after the resolution is put into effect.
If approval for centralized delivery is granted, the resolution asks at least 60 days pass before starting centralized delivery. The local postmaster will need to provide written notice to local government or planning commissions and allow a 60 day period for public comment from residents, property owners, and home builders affected.