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CBU Mailbox Replacement

Started by NpS • 24 replies • 3780 views

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NpS (Pennsylvania)
Posts: 4,216
Posted:
Wondering if anyone have recent knowledge of USPS policies re Central Box Unit (CBU) mailbox replacement.

Background:

HOA is 27 yrs old. Can see that the current CBUs aren't original, but don't know when they were changed.

USPS told one of our directors that painting CBUs is HOA responsibility (and must be painted same postal gray color).

Questions:

1. Any idea who owns the CBUs? USPS or HOA?

2. Has anyone asked USPS to replace CBUs in the last few years? How did it go?

3. Does anyone reserve for CBU replacement? What is expected useful life?

Thanks.
Sikubali jukumu. Read all posts at your own risk.
NpS (Pennsylvania)
Posts: 4,216
Posted:
CORRECTED:

Quote:
Posted By NpS on 07/18/2016 5:26 PM
Wondering if anyone has recent knowledge of USPS policies re Cluster Box Unit (CBU) mailbox replacement.

Background:

HOA is 27 yrs old. Can see that the current CBUs aren't original, but don't know when they were changed.

USPS told one of our directors that painting CBUs is HOA responsibility (and must be painted same postal gray color).

Questions:

1. Any idea who owns the CBUs? USPS or HOA?

2. Has anyone asked USPS to replace CBUs in the last few years? How did it go?

3. Does anyone reserve for CBU replacement? What is expected useful life?

Thanks.

Sikubali jukumu. Read all posts at your own risk.
KerryL1 (California)
Posts: 14,550
Posted:
We have two CBUs of about 105 boxes each in our interior mailrooms in our lobbies. We have an exterior CBU for the commercial Owner/tenants here.

Yes we reserve for them. Would need to look up estimated replacement cost per our analsyst's reserves study
MelissaP1 (Alabama)
Posts: 13,836
Posted:
The HOA is responsible for the mailboxes. However, if you are to purchase them they have to meet the USPS requirements. They can provide you with those. I've heard that only 2 companies are left that make such type mailboxes. It's not the most lucrative business. The USPS may provide a source.
Former HOA President
RichardP13 (California)
Posts: 3,868
Posted:
The HOA is responsible for the repair, maintenance and replacement of the CBU's, but they are heavy regulated by the USPS.

I am working on a proposal with the USPS where they will pay for new CBU's with installation. The community is going moving away from curbside to more centralized unit. They currently spend $4000.00 to paint their existing boxes every two years. This will be a substantial saving to them.

Because of the replacement cost and its expected life, this is a reserve item.
NpS (Pennsylvania)
Posts: 4,216
Posted:
Learned that the USPS contract is with co named Florence since 2005.

I believe that the USPS installed our units under the contract with the prior supplier.

Know that it's our responsibility to maintain. Still don't know if it's our responsibility to replace.

Since none of our board members has experience with this, could use any advice about working with USPS.

Thanks.
Sikubali jukumu. Read all posts at your own risk.
RichardP13 (California)
Posts: 3,868
Posted:
Again, it would be the association's responsibility to maintain, repair and replace the onsite mailbox clusters. It should also be identified in your reserve study, if you have one.

Advise, go down and meet your local postmaster and ask for help.
NpS (Pennsylvania)
Posts: 4,216
Posted:
Spoke to PO. They say that they don't own our mailboxes and replacement is on us.

Have no way to validate that this is true or not.

Told them that we think that USPO installed them. Answer was the same. They may have installed them, but we own them.

Any suggestions?
Sikubali jukumu. Read all posts at your own risk.
LetA (Nevada)
Posts: 2,679
Posted:
Wow! that is such a clash, because from all the news reports that I see on TV say the post office controls the boxes.
That may be some places here in Nevada..
NpS (Pennsylvania)
Posts: 4,216
Posted:
Quote:
Posted By LetA on 07/23/2016 9:41 PM
Wow! that is such a clash, because from all the news reports that I see on TV say the post office controls the boxes.
That may be some places here in Nevada..

No question - They control the boxes. They just won't pay for maintenance or replacement.
Sikubali jukumu. Read all posts at your own risk.
DanaT (Tennessee)
Posts: 214
Posted:
Quote:
Posted By NpS on 07/23/2016 10:05 PM
Posted By LetA on 07/23/2016 9:41 PM
Wow! that is such a clash, because from all the news reports that I see on TV say the post office controls the boxes.
That may be some places here in Nevada..


No question - They control the boxes. They just won't pay for maintenance or replacement.

"Generally, mail boxes are property of the US Postal Service, even though the boxes may have been installed by the developer or a homeowner's association. Federal law designates mail boxes as federal property to prevent tampering with delivery of mail. However, federal law doesn't require the postal service to maintain or replace mail boxes. In some situations where the postal service has mandated installation of cluster boxes, the post office retains responsibility for replacement. Unfortunately, because of its current financial situation, the post office doesn't have the ability to immediately replace or repair these boxes".

http://goo.gl/ofaco5
RichardP13 (California)
Posts: 3,868
Posted:
Quote:
Posted By DanaT on 07/24/2016 1:01 AM
http://goo.gl/ofaco5

Five attorneys and none of them know what they are talking about.
DanaT (Tennessee)
Posts: 214
Posted:
Quote:
Posted By RichardP13 on 07/24/2016 8:39 AM
Posted By DanaT on 07/24/2016 1:01 AM
http://goo.gl/ofaco5


Five attorneys and none of them know what they are talking about.

Maybe you can go school them. As far as their advice, you get what you pay for and theirs was free.
RichardP13 (California)
Posts: 3,868
Posted:
Dana

Over the past seven years, I have read many CCRs, from different parts of the country. I have never come across anything in them that refers to cluster mailboxes.

All o five attorneys advice was look in your governing docs. You say, what can you expect when the advice is free. Well, the advice on here is free and I have to say, over the years, 1000 times more useful than any attorney.
DanaT (Tennessee)
Posts: 214
Posted:
Quote:
Posted By RichardP13 on 07/24/2016 10:23 AM
Dana

Over the past seven years, I have read many CCRs, from different parts of the country. I have never come across anything in them that refers to cluster mailboxes.

All o five attorneys advice was look in your governing docs. You say, what can you expect when the advice is free. Well, the advice on here is free and I have to say, over the years, 1000 times more useful than any attorney.

I did not say anything about advice given from this community. I simply stated that this is what THEY put in writing. I guess one could always hook a chain around a CMB, rip it to the ground, then see if you get charged with destroying federal property.
NpS (Pennsylvania)
Posts: 4,216
Posted:
Quote:
Posted By RichardP13 on 07/24/2016 10:23 AM
I have read many CCRs, from different parts of the country. I have never come across anything in them that refers to cluster mailboxes.

Nothing mentioned in our CC&Rs - which is probably the reason CBUs were left out of our Reserve Study.

We're going to add them when it's time for an update. Suggest that others investigate and consider doing the same.
Sikubali jukumu. Read all posts at your own risk.
RichardP13 (California)
Posts: 3,868
Posted:
Quote:
Posted By NpS on 07/24/2016 11:07 AM
Posted By RichardP13 on 07/24/2016 10:23 AM
I have read many CCRs, from different parts of the country. I have never come across anything in them that refers to cluster mailboxes.

Nothing mentioned in our CC&Rs - which is probably the reason CBUs were left out of our Reserve Study.

There were nothing mentioned in mine either yet they were in our reserve studies. Matter of fact, all association I have ever been involved in have always had this included in their reserves despite the fact they aren't mentioned in the CCRs.
KerryL1 (California)
Posts: 14,550
Posted:
Our CC&Rs, too, do not list reserve components. Here there are 150+. The developer put the cluster mailboxes in the reserves study knowing that it was the HOA's responsibility.

The study gives them a 25 year life span, 9 years remaining, replacement cost of $18,500. This is for banks of them in our two mailrooms of about 105 each. And a cluster of about 12 exterior ones.

I assume when we finally must replace them, we'll check with the USPO (if it still exists) to see if there are any new requirements.
NpS (Pennsylvania)
Posts: 4,216
Posted:
Quote:
Posted By KerryL1 on 07/24/2016 11:51 AM
USPO (if it still exists)

Funny.
Sikubali jukumu. Read all posts at your own risk.
LetA (Nevada)
Posts: 2,679
Posted:
YEAH! tell me about it, then why did I have to drive 7 miles to my zip code post office, show my HUD-1 form from escrow closing to the clerk to get my mailbox keys
That tells me the PO installed it and controls it.. though the developer paid to have them installed.. sounds like nobody wants to pony up and take responsibility.
DanaT (Tennessee)
Posts: 214
Posted:
Quote:
Posted By LetA on 07/25/2016 9:40 PM
YEAH! tell me about it, then why did I have to drive 7 miles to my zip code post office, show my HUD-1 form from escrow closing to the clerk to get my mailbox keys
That tells me the PO installed it and controls it.. though the developer paid to have them installed.. sounds like nobody wants to pony up and take responsibility.

If I had a round cage, little balls and a square card with magic markers, in front of me, I would be yelling "BINGO" after reading your comment!
ChrisP5 (Missouri)
Posts: 165
Posted:
I'm not sure I would want to live in a HOA where the board members are responsible for granting access to the mailboxes and changing keys based on some of the stories about boards we see in the news feed on this site.

We reserve for replacing the boxes. For us one of the maintenance items to keep up on is making sure the bases are well maintained. Another condo association in our area had their bases rust out and a group of mailboxes fall over. They had issues getting their mail for a few days.
JonD1
Posts: 2,350
Posted:
We too had an issue with mailboxes outside the support for which were rusting away after 30+ years.

Right where they entered the ground they were rusting through. Now the boxes themselves were fine but the possibility of them falling over grew more real each year.

We came up with the idea of having a new concrete pedestal poured connecting each of three mailboxes in line. The first level was about 4" high and then each single box support had a second smaller section around each support another 3-4". So we were left with a solid base with 7" of new concrete supporting the boxes for the next 20 years. This versus bringing someone in to remove the boxes, dig out the supports, replace them, and them replace the boxes. Our project took one day, had no disruption of mail delivery, solved the issue, and cost a few dollars.

Worked quite well for us.
DanaT (Tennessee)
Posts: 214
Posted:
Quote:
Posted By DanaT on 07/26/2016 6:00 AM
Posted By LetA on 07/25/2016 9:40 PM
YEAH! tell me about it, then why did I have to drive 7 miles to my zip code post office, show my HUD-1 form from escrow closing to the clerk to get my mailbox keys
That tells me the PO installed it and controls it.. though the developer paid to have them installed.. sounds like nobody wants to pony up and take responsibility.


If I had a round cage, little balls and a square card with magic markers, in front of me, I would be yelling "BINGO" after reading your comment!

I stand corrected. I sent an e-mail to Florence Manufacturing as well as contacted the local distributor of Cluster Mail Boxes. Florence is the main supplier to the USPS. This is what I was told.

1. Depending on what year the boxes where installed, will depend on who must maintain them.
2. Depending on your area, and the budget your local PO has, will also be included into the maintenance process.
3. 99% of the time, the HOA will be responsible for replacement, depending on your area.
4. New developments must go through the Local USPS to determine the rules and regulations for Cluster Box installation as well as location.
5. While you may have to go to your Local PO for your mail box keys, it does not link your Local PO to ownership of the boxes, just the "Holder" of the keys.

Exceptions: If your base rusts out, your local PO will probably change them out, ONLY, after it has fallen over or has become a hazard, for the Mail Person, to deliver mail into it. Check with your local PO office about this service. All mail boxes are protected by Federal Law, only because they are designed to except Mail. This does not mean they are the property of the USPS.

If you live in Single Family Housing and your mail box falls over, then you simply will not receive your mail, till you bring it back into service.
PitA
Posts: 1,416
Posted:
PERECT

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