Paris affirms mailbox policy

PARIS — Mailboxes that are installed in the right-of-way and accidentally damaged by town vehicles will no longer be replaced by the town, following a 2007 municipal policy.

The board of selectmen voted to affirm and adhere to the policy during its meeting Monday evening.

According to Town Manager Amy Bernard, there has been a spree of complaints of mailboxes damaged by town plows in the past few weeks, about a dozen this year.

According to the policy, which cites state law, if mailboxes set outside the right-of-way are damaged by town vehicles, the town is responsible for replacement, but not if the mailbox is placed within the right-of-way.

The problem, Bernard said, is the policy has not been followed for the past few years, setting a precedent that the town replaced damaged mailboxes.

"My question is, do you want to follow the policy or do we want a budget to replace mailboxes in the right of way?" Bernard asked the board.

Plow drivers sometimes worked long, tiring shifts and, during a storm, mailboxes could be more easily damaged, Bernard said.

But it was also difficult to prove that a town plow damaged the mailbox, she said.

Costs to replace mailboxes and posts could be more than $25 apiece, Bernard said.

The board voted unanimously to affirm its policy and post a notice in local newspapers informing residents it would no longer replace mailboxes in the right-of-way.

Residents can contact the post office for information on proper mailbox placement.