Local News - Mullica to fight Comcast decision to close White Horse Pike office
Comcast proposes to close its office in Mullica Township, and local officials plan to fight it.
The cable company filed a petition with the state Board of Public Utilities to shut down the office at 3040 S. White Horse Pike because it is....Continue Reading
a small center with "minimal traffic" and "we determined it made sense to consolidate some operations for increased efficiency," Jeff Alexander, a Comcast spokesman, said.
Alexander said the Mullica office is mainly used for bill payments and most Comcast customers have been using other ways to pay their cable bills online and through automatic electronic deposits. He noted that Comcast has 14 other customer service centers throughout Atlantic County - including one at 106 Fairview Ave. in Hammonton - and customers who do not wish to pay online can also pay by telephone or mail.
The company would like to close the Mullica office by Nov. 1, pending state BPU approval, Alexander said, and the one employee who works at the Mullica office would be moved to another Comcast location. Alexander declined to say how many customers Comcast serves in Mullica. The township's population was 6,052 in 2009, according to the U.S. Census.
Mullica Mayor Michael St. Amour and the rest of the township committee disagree with the proposal and township solicitor Norm Zlotnick sent over a letter on Aug. 26 asking to keep the office open.
St. Amour said shutting down the Mullica office would be inconvenient for all of the residents, especially since the Hammonton office is several miles away. He added that the proposed closing would be "a dollars and cents move" and it gives the perception that Comcast is another large company marginalizing customers in a small municipality.
"Regardless what they say, saving money, it's not going to translate into a reduction of anyone's bill," St. Amour said.
Deputy Mayor Bernard Graebner said a lot of Mullica residents use the office and "every time I'm there, I have to wait, so what does that tell you?"
The state BPU received Comcast's proposal in late July and the public has an opportunity to comment on the proposed closing, said Doyal Siddell, a state BPU spokesman. The state BPU staff will review Comcast's documents and the public comment, then forward it on to the BPU.
Siddell said Friday that he did not know when the matter will be reviewed.
Contact Michelle Lee: 609-272-7256 MLee@pressofac.com
This story was taken from the news source stated above. It's content and comments are not necessarily the opinion of The Elwood Vol. Fire Company or it's members.
For information
Comments about Comcast's proposal to close the Mullica office can be mailed to: Director Celeste Fasone, OCTV, Board of Public Utilities, Two Gateway Center, Suite 801, Newark, NJ 07102. In addition, consumers may also contact the OCTV by phone at (800) 624-0331. E-mail comments can be sent to steven.rastatter@bpu.state.nj.us
