Post office halts special moving-expense payments

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Postmaster General William Henderson today ordered a ban on special moving-expense payments for executives following a critical inspector general's report on the payment of $248,000 to relocate two top managers.

At the same time, one of those managers, Chief Financial Officer Richard Porras, announced his retirement.

Postal officials confirmed last week that the agency had paid $142,000 to move one vice president 10 miles and about $106,000 to move another 30 miles, even though both continued to report to work at the agency's Washington headquarters.

Postal executives moving to new duty assignments usually have to change workplace and relocate at least 50 miles to be eligible for a relocation benefit, but the two negotiated exceptions when they were promoted in 1998.

Porras moved 10 miles to be closer to a Postal Service training academy and Washington Dulles International Airport. Controller John H. Ward moved 30 miles and now lives three miles from headquarters.