“Muril, at long last I received the necessary information from Michael Graybill, Mailing Standards Specialist, of the USPS to be able to address this issue more completely. If CCSD requires any further information or clarification from the USPS I was encouraged to have them contact the Mailing Requirements Department at 661-775-6661. This material is in response to my earlier inquiry of you, and the CCSD Staff’s response to the General Manager that basically said that what they are doing is the “right thing to do” and the most fiscally responsible.

Attached please find the USPS Quick Service Guide 230d, as well as CCSD’s earlier response. The USPS document shows that the CCSD can qualify for a postage rate of $.324 for first class letters and $.199 for postcards, resulting in significant postage savings. (These rates are slightly higher than my earlier information due to postal rate increases.) Just for the normal bi-monthly bills the postage savings is approximately $400.00 per mailing. Additional mailings, such as the annual fire clearance notification and quarterly newsletters, would yield additional savings. These savings can be achieved whether or not the CCSD continues the practice of using a contract mailing service. In addition, I could find no reason for why CCSD has not already been receiving the reduced postage benefit while using the contract mailing service. If the CCSD was to begin mailing it’s own permit mail it would be required to pay the annual $180 presort permit mailing fee. Lastly, I’ve encouraged the CCSD to market the direct-debit bill pay feature that they are currently capable of handling. From the numerous Cambrians that I’ve talked to, very few of them are aware of this time and cost savings option. If used in conjunction with email notices instead of mailed bills, as is standard practice with most business and utilities these days, in addition to curbing postage costs, this option could significantly reduce payment processing costs. I’ve been personally told by CCSD that the email notice versus a mailed notice, as well as no return envelope with a mailed notice for direct-debit customers, is a “can’t do” option.

The CCSD in it’s response said that it only has a manually fed postage meter, and it has deemed it not cost effective to purchase one. Using the postal permit process does not utilize a postage meter. Instead, the permit number is preprinted on the envelopes at no additional cost. The postage fees are collected at the applicable rate when the letters are mailed. To receive the benefit of the reduced postage rate, CCSD must ensure that the mailing is at least 500 pieces and the mail must be bar-coded on either the inserted mail, with the barcode showing through the window envelope, or on the outside of the envelope. Per the USPS there are Windows-based programs readily available that pre-print the bar code on the billing invoice so that it will display through the mailing envelope. Even if the CCSD’s prior computers would not have been compatible with such a program, which I seriously doubt, now that there are 21 brand new computers I’m confident that their hardware is capable of this routine process.

The last paragraph of the CCSD’s response is a totally unfounded attack on presorted first class mail. I have confirmed with the USPS that this type of mail is treated identically to full price first class mail. They, Mr. Graybill and Cambria Postmaster Gerry Kalar, confirmed that speculation about delayed delivery and non-return of undeliverable mail is baseless.

Frankly, instead of the “can’t do” mentality at CCSD, it’s time for them to develop a “can do” attitude and save some ratepayer money. “

This lack of initiative may be attributable to a career spent in Government administration where there is no accountability for performance and no reward for cutting costs.
I guess we get the kind of manager we accept.