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Concerns range from litter and snow to access and security continued from p.1 Resident concerns ranged from security, litter and snow removal to access, parking and vandalism. "Community mailboxes have served most of Oakville's residents for many years, but we don't want to diminish this is a significant change for those who have enjoyed door-to-door delivery," said Mary Traversy, Canada Post senior vice-president of business transformation. Traversy said digital alternatives are replacing traditional mail at a "dramatic rate." "The trend is actually accelerating and we're seeing it month-aftermonth. We have less mail than we've had in the past. Canadians are using Canada Post very differently today," said Traversy, noting there were more than 1.2 billion fewer pieces of mail delivered in 2013 than in 2006. "With the prospect of this continuing decline in letter mail, we foresaw we were going to lose money." The switch to community mailboxes is the first stage of a five-year national initiative involving roughly five million addresses. The Crown corporation will not change delivery for apartments, seniors' buildings and condominiums where mail is delivered to the lobby. Customers who have mail delivered to a rural mailbox at the end of a driveway, and businesses in well-established areas, such as main streets, will also see no change. "This is about returning us to financial sustainability and ensuring we don't become a tax burden on taxpayers," said Traversy. "We heard loud and clear from Canadians they do not want their tax dollars spent on Canada Post." Canada Post will be rolling out new community mailboxes with upgraded designs and security features such as anti-graffiti wrap. "Fortunately we haven't had a lot of vandalism or CMBs (community mailboxes) broken into over the years. There have been some, so that's why we certainly strengthened the existing boxes," said Traversy. Town staff said if a report of a vandalized CMB comes through Service Oakville or Roads and Works, it would be sent to Canada Post to handle. Doug McKirgan, a Trafalgar Road resident, questioned the location and appearances of the mailboxes and noted the one at Trafalgar Road and MacDonald Road has problems with litter and snow removal. Town staff said if the mailbox is 3 | Friday, April 11, 2014 | OAKVILLE BEAVER | www.insideHALTON.com It was a full house in Town Hall's council chamber Monday as the Town hosted Canada Post officials in an information session on the Crown corporation's plan to switch home delivery to community mailboxes at 26,400 residences in Oakville this fall. | photo by Eric Riehl ­ Oakville Beaver (Follow on Twitter @halton_photog or facebook.com/HaltonPhotog) along a municipal sidewalk, it could remove the snow. If it's on a dedicated walkway, snow and litter removal, is Canada Post's responsibility. Traversy said Canada Post has standards for the sites, will resolve issues on a "case-by-case" basis and situates CMBs on corner lots and out of view as much as possible. Denis Lemelin is the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) national president. The group repre- sents 150 Oakville workers and he argued lack of public consultation prior to Canada Post's announcement of its Five-Point Plan. Susan Margles, Canada Post vicepresident of government relations and policy, said Canada Post embarked on a consultation process in 46 communities last year. Every Oakville household affected by the delivery change will receive a package and survey. So far, 6,500 have responded. "Residents can expect to get information packages from us about when they can get their keys and where their box is going to be. All of this well in advance of transferring people's mail from the mailbox outside to the community mailbox," said Margles. Mike Lansdown, who has mobility issues, said Canada Post's plan for mail deliveries is to "disable, rather than enable" the aging-at-home concept. Traversy said Canada Post has reached out to groups representing seniors and those with mobility challenges to resolve access issues and will visit residents whose properties will be home to the CMBs and their immediate neighbours. Residents can call customer service at 1-866-607-6301 should they have concerns or questions regarding the new CMBs. Mayor Rob Burton noted it's Canada Post, not the Town, that decides where mailboxes go. While an exact date for the change has not bee made, residents were told October is the target. Town council requested mailbox location maps and a report from Canada Post to form part of the Town's efforts to prepare a resolution on the change. A notice of motion is expected at the next Town council meeting. DENTISTRY FOR CHILDREN means... 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