Aurora homeowner shocked by proposed mailbox site

Yorkregion.com
May 13, 2015
By Teresa Latchford

Susan Joseph didn’t expect her new community mailbox to be so close.

The Aurora resident was aware her neighbourhood would soon be making the transition from home mail delivery to the super boxes but was completely surprised when a Canada Post representative presented her with a handout indicating where she would soon pick up her mail.

“He handed me a pamphlet and I was floored,” she said. “It was, essentially, a picture of my driveway and front yard.”

The site of the new box left her perplexed. There isn’t a sidewalk on her side of Parkland Court, parked cars will create a safety issue due to her driveway and during the winter months, the snowdrifts are more than six-feet high in that area.

“It was a Google Maps picture of my yard, which makes me think no one even bothered to visit it in person to make an assessment,” she said. “It’s baffling how they can make a decision like this without any public consultation.”

It’s not that Joseph objects to the mailbox on her property, it’s that it would be much better suited and safer for pedestrians on the other side of the street or at least farther down her property line away from her driveway.

Councillor Tom Mrakas shares Joseph’s view and tabled a motion last week asking for council’s support following the City of Hamilton’s lead in creating a bylaw that would give the municipality authority over the locations of mailboxes.

Hamilton set new rules requiring Canada Post to pay $200 per mailbox location for inspection purposes, Ward 8 Hamilton Councillor Terry Whitehead said, during an Aurora council meeting held earlier this week.

Hamilton has already handed out eight fines but Canada Post has asked the Ontario Superior Court to declare the bylaw invalid.

The motion, put forth by Mrakas, sparked much discussion among councillors who supported five motions on the issue.

Pending final approval, the town will endorse Hamilton’s opposition to the elimination of home mail delivery and installation of mailboxes. A letter will be sent to all levels of government from Mayor Geoff Dawe to request the Federal Transportation Minister halt installation and consult further with the public. Town staff will bring recommendations to the next committee meeting to regulate the installation of equipment, including mailboxes, on roads and set out regulations requiring Canada Post to apply for permits with fees to cover any installation or maintenance costs the town will incur.

A full bylaw will be considered at the next council meeting.

Aurora isn’t the only municipality taking issue with the mailbox locations.

The Town of Newmarket has asked Canada Post to extend its consultation period 180 days and directed town staff to review the mailbox locations for safety, accessibility, parking and winter maintenance.