Small business forum held at Warwick Town Hall

WARWICK - Contractor David Bartnowski complained that police now enforce new Department of Transportation stringent rules, licenses and regulations, formerly applicable only to heavy vehicles like tractor-trailers to pick up trucks. “When I hitch a small equipment trailer to my pick-up and the combined weight exceeds 10,000 pounds,” he said, “I’m suddenly in the same league as a tractor trailer. Now I not only have to pay for the numerous licenses and permits involved but my insurance has tripled and I have trouble finding sub-contractors.” Bartnowski and other small business owners recently attended a small business forum sponsored by Assemblywoman Annie Rabbit and Warwick Town Supervisor Michael Sweeton. The well-attended event was held at the Warwick Town Hall on Wednesday, Oct. 31. “We must never forget that small businesses are the backbone of our economy and we need them to succeed if we want our state’s economy to grow,” said Rabbitt. “It is sad to think that as many as 90 percent of new small businesses will fail within the first three years. With the failure of these businesses, our community loses vital jobs. We need to increase the resources available to them to make certain that they succeed.” Rabbitt is a member of the Assembly Republican Small Business Task Force and a small business owner herself. The recent forum was designed to listen to the concerns, questions and comments of small business owners as well as local officials and to return to Albany with suggestions on how to reduce or eliminate the red tape, taxes and excessive regulations that can harm small business. “We in Warwick recognize that the life blood of our community is small business,” said Sweeton. “If there is any way we can assist our small business owners we need to do it. This forum fits in well with our overall plans to encourage business development in the Town of Warwick and we really appreciate Assemblywoman Rabbitt’s willingness to bring this valuable experience to her hometown of Warwick.” Steve Pennings, owner of Pennings Farm Market, explained that because most residents commute to work, his business must depend on weekend shoppers. But to serve the community, he must bear the expense of remaining open on weekdays even though many of these commuters are shopping elsewhere on their way home. “The strongest message today,” he said. “is ‘buy local.’” Pennings also asked Rabbitt to convey the message that government needs to loosen up on regulations. “Take off the handcuffs and we’ll succeed,” he said. Several other business owners and local officials also echoed the importance of buying locally. But Village of Florida Mayor James R. Pawliczek admitted that their were few ordinary businesses like butcher and tailor shops on his Main Street and that the vast majority of merchants were only looking for a second income. Greenwood Lake Mayor Barbara Moore was hopeful for recent downtown revitalization plans in her village but she worried about the impact of a rising school tax. Warwick Mayor Michael Newhard worried about rising costs for his Main Street businesses, especially rents, and he too expressed concern that people were not shopping locally. “It’s interesting,” he said, “that when Europeans come here they shop at the malls and when we go to Europe, we enjoy visiting their small shops.” Warwick Valley Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Michael Johndrow suggested that the message needs to be sent out that there are advantages to shopping locally, not the least of which are time spent away from the family and the price of gas. “You need to shop locally to be part of your community,” added Carol Bartnowski, owner of The Inkwell office supply. Rabbitt and Sweeton both reported that they considered the forum a success. Hot button issues that day also included the state’s dysfunctional workers’ compensation system, archaic labor laws, excessive bureaucratic ‘red tape’ and the need to cut taxes to help regional economies thrive. Another topic discussed was the need to assist small businesses faced with overwhelming costs of health insurance, energy and taxes. “I look forward to taking the testimony I heard today back to Albany and drafting legislation that will benefit our local business community,” said Rabbitt. “And in addition to listening at these forums, we are also trying to educate our small business leaders about the services and resources that exist to assist them in running their businesses more profitably and efficiently.”