Moore continues disaster relief work in the Senate

Presenting testimony at S. 2739’s public hearing, Fire Chief of Uxbridge, Peter Ostroskey, who was onsite at the Bernat Mill fire, Sen. Moore, and Sgt. Peter B. Emerick, Director of Emergency Services for the town of Uxbridge

July 2, 2008 ... In an effort to help local small business owners in emergency relief, Sen. Richard T. Moore, D–Uxbridge, filed a bill in April that would address the needs of businesses after a disaster. Moore filed the bill in response to the Bernat Mill eight-alarm fire that occurred in Uxbridge on July 21, 2007. The disaster displaced over 60 small businesses and placed considerable financial strain on the business owners in Bernat Mill and the town of Uxbridge.

The bill, S.2739, which has now reached the Joint Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security, addresses the needs of business owners like those at the Bernat Mill, who had little relief after the disaster. A public hearing was held for the bill on Wednesday, July 2nd.

“Small businesses are ill-equipped for disaster recovery following a major catastrophe,” said Sen. Moore in his testimony at the hearing. “Without the resources of a large corporation, small business owners face tough decisions to close, sell off, or try to reopen their business. I believe that this legislation will address those needs, and will help to get these small business owners back on track.”

Also providing testimony for the hearing was Leonard “Cappy” Fournier and John H. Tweed, the co-owners of the Bernat Mill Complex. “Had this bill been in place at the time of the devastating fire at the Bernat Mill in Uxbridge, the negative financial and emotional impact of that event would have been greatly diminished,” said Fournier.

Sgt. Peter B. Emerick, Director of Emergency Management for Uxbridge concluded, “Passage of this bill is an opportunity to say with confidence that at the local level, there are now resources available that may help you along the way.”

Sen. Moore’s legislation contains many suggestions that were made by owners of small businesses and municipal leaders that have been affected by natural disasters, like Fournier, Tweed, Emerick, and Fire Chief Peter Ostroskey, who was also present for testimony. Some of these suggestions include, but are not limited to:

Encouraging small businesses to purchase Business Continuity Insurance by offering them a tax exemption of half the premium cost.

Creating a sales tax exemption for the office supplies, machinery, vehicles and other equipment that a business must replace as a result of an emergency.

Allowing municipalities to enter real estate tax abatement agreements with businesses impacted by a natural disaster.

Transferring the balance of the Hurricane Katrina Fund to establish a Small Business Recovery Fund to assist municipalities and as collateral for low interest loans to small businesses.

Developing an unemployment compensation program for self-employed individuals and small business owners displaced by a disaster or emergency.

“This legislation will address the needs of those that have been set back in their trades and working lives. Small businesses are an integral and important part of the Commonwealth’s economic activity, and we need to take an initiative in making sure they survive after a disaster like the Bernat Mill fire,” concluded Moore.

Sen. Moore’s bill has a wide range of support through its co-sponsors: Sen. Harriette Chandler, D-Worcester; Rep. Paul Kujawski, D-Webster; Rep. George Peterson, R-Grafton; Rep. John Fernandes, D-Milford; Sen. Edward Augustus, D-Worcester; Rep. Peter Kocot, D-Northampton; Sen. Susan Tucker, D-Lawrence; Rep. Linda Harkins, D-Needham; Rep. Joyce Spiliotis, D-Peabody; Rep. Theodore Speliotis, D-Danvers; Rep. Robert Koczera, D-Fall River; and Rep. Barry Finegold, D-Andover.

The bill currently awaits its report in the Joint Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security, under the Chairmanship of Sen. James E. Timilty, D–Walpole, and Rep. Michael A. Costello, D–Newburyport.

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