Plug Pulled On Passport Sales At Municipal Center

Less than a month after being told that she could use space at Newtown Municipal Center to help travelers file paperwork for their passports, Peggy Jepsen has been told she will not be able to use space in the town-owned building after all.

Ms Jepsen had begun serving as a receiving agent for US Passports on January 26, and had planned to be open each Thursday and Friday afternoon. She learned last week, however, that her work under the roof of the municipal center was being questioned.

“There is a specific, proper way that passport applications must be prepared,” Ms Jepsen told The Bee last month. “[The State Department, which approves passport applications] handles thousands of applications every day and they want things in a particular order. Otherwise an application will be kicked back.

“I’m here to make sure that doesn’t happen,” she said. A fee schedule was being followed, with applicants paying the State Department varying costs depending on whether they were applying for an adult or minor’s passport or passport card, and whether it was a new application or a renewal. Appropriate postage was also collected, which depended on how quickly a passport was needed.

In addition to the State Department fees, Ms Jepsen was collecting a $25 service fee per application.

“That’s the same fee charged by the post office, and the standard fee being charged by service agents across the country,” she said. The service fee was charged whether an applicant is applying for a passport book, passport card, or book and card at the same time.

The service fee is what had some residents questioning whether Ms Jepsen should be operating what appeared to be a business out of the municipal center, she told The Bee last week.

“[First Selectman] Pat Llodra heard a few complaints, and felt it would be better if I found a different place to do this,” Ms Jepsen said. “So for the time being, Newtown does not have a passport agent office.”

The longtime resident and former probate office clerk is actively seeking a new location, she said.

Residents must apply with an agent in person for a new passport if they are applying for a passport for the first time. They must also apply in person with an agent or at the post office if they are under age 16; if their previous passport was issued when they were under age 16; if their previous passport was lost, stolen, or damaged; if the previous passport was issued more than 15 years ago; or if their name has changed since their previous passport was issued and applicants are unable to legally document the name change.

Connecticut has a Passport Agency in Norwalk, at 50 Washington Street. For information on obtaining passports visit the State Department’s website, travel.state.gov/passport.