SKANEATELES - Skaneateles' postmaster has seen the community grow and expand.
Sam Tenney / The Citizen!----BYLINE-------->
Skaneateles Postmaster Charlie Tanner sits in the workroom of the Skaneateles Post Office Friday afternoon. Tanner will be retiring this week.
Skaneateles Postmaster Charlie Tanner sits in the workroom of the Skaneateles Post Office Friday afternoon. Tanner will be retiring this week.
Now, the post office is delivering another change.
Charlie Tanner is moving on from his postmaster position; his last day is Feb. 27.
His retirement comes after starting with the Skaneateles Post Office nearly 45 years ago. He worked his way up from a part-time carrier to a supervisor before receiving a promotion to postmaster 16 years ago.
“My total career with the exceptions of a few details outside the post office has always been in Skaneateles,” he said.
That promotion was one spotlight in his career. Another memorable time came from a visit from another kind of federal official.
Tanner had to work with the Secret Service when President Bill and Hillary Clinton came to Skaneateles in 1999. They scrutinized the mail, and Tanner had to work out the logistics of getting the Clintons' mail delivered to the Sherwood Inn. He called that process exciting but nerve-racking.
“That was one highlight of my career, while Bill Clinton and his wife were here. I was one of the highest government officers in town, but when he came into town he took my spot,” Tanner joked.
The position helped him get to know the community, local officials and businesses. First, he learned the community on foot as a carrier, then as an official for the United States. Postal Service.
“I'm a firm believer ... that the postmaster should be in the community,” he said.
And through him being out in the community, Tanner watched Skaneateles grow over the years and saw developments pop up around town.
“Of course, we grow like the community grows,” the 63-year-old said.
The post office went from covering three rural routes and three village routes to expanding to include six rural routes along with the three routes in the village.
But the post office would never have grown if the residents didn't use the small Fennell Street office, he added.
“I take my hats off to the community. They've been a good supporter of the US Postal Service,” he said.
Independent survey ranked the village's office high in service and professionalism. Tanner points to the people who work with him as making the post office “one of the best in the world.”
The Syracuse post office has not selected his replacement yet. A postmaster manages the employees, answers questions from the community, solves service problems, and works with developers to create lines of travel for mail delivery.
His employees weren't surprised he chose to retire, but were sad to see him go.
Tanner said they were glad that he can relax and take a break after his decades of working. While he doesn't have any immediate plans for his retirement, he thinks another job is in his future.
“I can't sit still.”
Charlie Tanner is moving on from his postmaster position; his last day is Feb. 27.
His retirement comes after starting with the Skaneateles Post Office nearly 45 years ago. He worked his way up from a part-time carrier to a supervisor before receiving a promotion to postmaster 16 years ago.
“My total career with the exceptions of a few details outside the post office has always been in Skaneateles,” he said.
That promotion was one spotlight in his career. Another memorable time came from a visit from another kind of federal official.
Tanner had to work with the Secret Service when President Bill and Hillary Clinton came to Skaneateles in 1999. They scrutinized the mail, and Tanner had to work out the logistics of getting the Clintons' mail delivered to the Sherwood Inn. He called that process exciting but nerve-racking.
“That was one highlight of my career, while Bill Clinton and his wife were here. I was one of the highest government officers in town, but when he came into town he took my spot,” Tanner joked.
The position helped him get to know the community, local officials and businesses. First, he learned the community on foot as a carrier, then as an official for the United States. Postal Service.
“I'm a firm believer ... that the postmaster should be in the community,” he said.
And through him being out in the community, Tanner watched Skaneateles grow over the years and saw developments pop up around town.
“Of course, we grow like the community grows,” the 63-year-old said.
The post office went from covering three rural routes and three village routes to expanding to include six rural routes along with the three routes in the village.
But the post office would never have grown if the residents didn't use the small Fennell Street office, he added.
“I take my hats off to the community. They've been a good supporter of the US Postal Service,” he said.
Independent survey ranked the village's office high in service and professionalism. Tanner points to the people who work with him as making the post office “one of the best in the world.”
The Syracuse post office has not selected his replacement yet. A postmaster manages the employees, answers questions from the community, solves service problems, and works with developers to create lines of travel for mail delivery.
His employees weren't surprised he chose to retire, but were sad to see him go.
Tanner said they were glad that he can relax and take a break after his decades of working. While he doesn't have any immediate plans for his retirement, he thinks another job is in his future.
“I can't sit still.”
