|
Kokua Line
June Watanabe
|
Postal Service allows breaks along routes
Question: On New Year's Eve, I happened to see a U.S. Postal Service delivery truck make a familiar turn into a driveway at 2 p.m. Wondering about it, I waited to see if it was a delivery. The truck emerged at 2:45 p.m. It seems the postman went to his home.
Is it appropriate for postal delivery people to take the government vehicles home? I think not.
Answer: We provided the address and truck number to the Postal Service.
Spokeswoman Lynne Moore, manager of consumer affairs, said she could not comment specifically on this case, but noted that carriers are allowed to take lunch and other breaks along their route.
That might include a stop at their home during their workday.
Carriers "are allotted a reasonable deviation from the route to have lunch," she explained. But, such lunch and restroom stops have to be approved in advance.
"If the carrier happens to live on the route and it's a reasonable deviation, then they actually could go home for lunch," Moore said.
Some routes, such as in strictly residential areas, might not have an acceptable comfort station stop, so accommodations also can be made for a carrier to leave the route for that, she added.
Carriers "may be out there (working) for six hours, and there has to be some consideration for their needs," Moore said.
"The carriers know they're driving a postal vehicle, that they're in a postal uniform and are in the public eye and that they should conduct themselves professionally," she said. "I'm sure carriers are aware that people are watching."
But if you think something is not right, Moore said to pass on your concerns to the postal delivery office in your area.
Q: Who can we call about a mailbox on Halekauwila Street, between South and Punchbowl streets, that needs exterior cleaning because of extensive bird droppings?
A: Just contact the appropriate postal station in the area.
In this case, spokeswoman Lynne Moore said she would notify the downtown post office, which oversees the Halekauwila Street delivery area, and it will contact the maintenance crew to take care of the problem.
"If the location is not the best -- if it's in an area that might be a health hazard (such as under a tree where bird droppings are a problem) -- they might consider moving the box" to another spot, she said.
Q: What is the bulky item pickup schedule for Liliha and Mahalo streets?
A: Those streets are in Sector 2 of the Honolulu District, where bulky pickups are made the first Wednesday of the month (see www.opala.org/waste_disposal_at_home/bulky_item_pickup.html for the full schedule).
Collection will take place Wednesday, Thursday and Friday of your week.
Place your items curbside beginning at 6 a.m. Wednesday. For more information, call the Honolulu Collection Yard at 832-7840.
Got a question or complaint? Call 529-4773, fax 529-4750, or write to Kokua Line, Honolulu Star-Bulletin, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., No. 7-210, Honolulu 96813. As many as possible will be answered. E-mail to
kokualine@starbulletin.com.
See also: Useful phone numbers