HomeMy WebLinkAboutWD-2-82 1
CORPORATION OF THE TOWN OF NEWCASTLE
PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT
HAMPTON,ONTARIO LOB 1JO
REPORT TO THE GENERAL PURPOSE AND ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE OF
JANUARY 11 , 1982.
REPORT: WD-2-82.
SUBJECT: Mailbox Location and Replacement Policy.
RECOMMENDATION:
It is respectfully recommended that:
1 . This Report be received, and;
2. Mailboxes on Municipal road allowances shall
be located and erected in accordance with
Sections 83 and 96 of the Canada Post Guide-
lines entitled 'Rural Delivery of Mail ' , and;
3• Mailbox replacement or repair shall be under-
taken by the Town of Newcastle only if the
damage is proven to have been directly
caused by Town equipment, and providing that
the mailbox and post were installed in accord-
ance with Section 83 of the ' Rural Delivery
of Mail ' manual , and;
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4. Subject to the aforementioned conditions,
the Town of Newcastle shall repair, if
feasible, or replace the mailbox and/or post,
when weather conditions permit and, further, j
it shall be the responsibility of the home-
owner to make temporary arrangements for mail
delivery until the Town completes the perm-
anent repairs.
BACKGROUND & REPORT:
Resolution # W-28-81 (Public Works Committee, January 20, 1981 )
directed that a Policy be formulated in respect of the Town 's
liability and responsibility for damages to mailboxes and posts
incurred during maintenance operations on Municipal road allowances. /�}
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WD--2-82 _ 2 - V r 6(b)
Although all operators of Municipal equipment are instructed to
pay due care and attention to private property, it is sometimes
unavoidable that damages are incurred; this applies particularly
during winter maintenance (snow ploughing) operations, when the
'wing' of a plowing vehicles comes into contact with installations
such as mail boxes.
Each year the Public Works Department receives a small number
of complaints that mailboxes and/or posts have been damaged and
it is felt that a formalized Policy in this respect would be
of assistance; with this in mind, the Region of Durham and the
City of Oshawa forwarded copies of their policies, and each is
based, primarily, on the conditions set out in the guidelines
of Canada Post which govern the location of mailboxes. The
sections of the Guidelines to which reference is made are as
follows:
Section 83: Rural Mail Delivery Manual .
"A rural mailbox shall be:
a) Located along the right-hand side of the road, according to
the courier' s line of travel , in a position where the courier
can reach and service it from his vehicle, without being an
impediment to pedestrian or vehicular traffic.
b) Erected so that:
i) the box is securely attached to a fixed post
or cantilever arm, and;
ii ) the bottom of the box is 1 .1 m (3'61 above
the roadway, and;
iii) identified by having the name of each box-
holder printed in indelible lettering not
less than 25 mm (1 ") high on the side of the
box, visible to the courier as he approaches
on his line of travel . Normally this would
be the right side of the box when facing the
mail door of the box.
iv) In addition, mail boxes shall be erected such
that the mail door of the mail box, when turned
towards the travelled roadway, shall be no
closer than the ditch edge of the shoulder, or
at least 0.3 m. ( lft. ) away from the nearest
edge of the travelled roadway where there is
no shoulder, or at least 0.3 m. (lft. ) away
from the face of the nearest curb.
WD-2-82 _ 3 7, V �b�
Section 96 (Part III) :
"All mailbox holders shall :
a) Keep approaches to box level clear of snow and other
obstructions at all times to enable the courier to cover
his route without unnecessary delay or inconvenience.
This duty is the responsibility of the box holder".
It is suggested that the Town of Newcastle repair or replace rural
mailboxes, posts or supporting structures on a complaint basis
only, and upon the provision of adequate evidence to indicate that
the box and/or support was damaged directly by a Town snow plow
blade.
Respectfully submitted,
David T. Gray, C.E.T. ,
Deputy Director of Public Works,
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