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Executive Directors Message
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NEW EXECUTIVE ORDER FOR ESSENTIAL RETAIL BUSINESSES
PPP UPDATE
UST COMPLIANCE TESTING STILL ONGOING
HAPPY EASTER/PASSOVER
EXECUTIVE ORDER
First of all, everyone needs to be aware of the new requirements being created by the Governor's latest Executive Order. You can read the full order for yourself by clicking here. The order takes effect this Friday at 8pm. You may notice that some of the requirements are qualified with terms like "wherever possible" and "wherever feasible", leaving you some discretion. Others have no flexibility, although several of the requirements are likely practices you are already following. We have bolded the requirements that are most important to get in place by the deadline, since if you don't have these in place it will be obvious to anyone walking in.
Here are the requirements for all essential retail businesses:
O Limit occupancy at 50% of the stated maximum store capacity at one time
O Establish hours of operation, wherever possible, that permit access solely to high-risk individuals, as defined by the CDC
O Install a physical barrier, such as a shield guard, between customers and cashiers wherever feasible or otherwise ensure six feet of distance between those individuals, except at the moment of payment and/or exchange of goods
O Require infection control practices, such as regular hand washing, coughing and sneezing etiquette, and proper tissue usage and disposal
O Provide employees break time for repeated hand washing throughout the workday
O Arrange for contactless pay options, pickup, and/or delivery of goods wherever feasible. Such policies shall, wherever possible, consider populations that do not have access to internet service
o Provide sanitation materials, such as hand sanitizer and sanitizing wipes, to staff and customers
o Require frequent sanitization of high-touch areas like restrooms, credit card machines, keypads, counters and shopping carts
o Place conspicuous signage at entrances and throughout the store, if applicable, alerting staff and customers to the required six feet of physical distance
o Demarcate six feet of spacing in check-out lines to demonstrate appropriate spacing for social distancing
o Require workers and customers to wear cloth face coverings while on the premises, except where doing so would inhibit the individual's health or where the individual is under 2 years of age, and require workers to wear gloves when in contact with customers or goods.
§ Businesses must provide, at their expense, such face coverings and gloves for their employees.
§ Even cloth masks have been difficult to come by, the CDC has provided some basic tutorials on how to make a cloth mask without sewing, using old tshirts or bandanas and rubber bands. Use Cloth Face Coverings to Help Slow Spread | CDC There are also numerous other tutorials on youtube.
§ If a customer refuses to wear a cloth face covering for non-medical reasons and if such covering cannot be provided to the individual by the business at the point of entry, then the business must decline entry to the individual, unless the business is providing medication, medical supplies, or food, in which case the business policy should provide alternate methods of pickup and/or delivery of such goods.
§ If an individual declines to wear a mask for a medical condition, the business shall not require the individual to produce documentation to prove it.
o Immediately separate and send home workers who appear to have symptoms consistent with COVID-19 illness
o Promptly notify workers of any known exposure to COVID-19 at the worksite
o Clean and disinfect the worksite in accordance with CDC guidelines when a worker at the site has been diagnosed with COVID-19 illness
· Non-essential construction shall cease
o We have concerns that this prevents all forms of construction at essential businesses, though we are working with the Governor's Office for clarification.
PPP UPDATE
Since the passage of the Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act ("Phase 1") and the CARES Act ("Phase 3"), NJGCA has been sending you information and updates on how to navigate the many loan, grant, and relief programs that small businesses should consider applying for during this pandemic.
The inclusion of the Paycheck Protection Program ("PPP") in Phase 3 has created an invaluable resource for small business owners --- and a great deal of chaos and confusion. Since the inception of PPP last Friday, there has been a new-era "run on the banks", leaving both banking officials and the small business community frustrated. We are only six days into the PPP rollout and we've already heard from Members, MBPs, and industry resources that banks are overwhelmed with applications. The deluge of applications has caused a number of lending institutions to stop accepting submissions, so as to digest the back-log of requests.
This very scenario has occurred with our MBP, Kearny Bank. Kearny is now totally consumed with applications. As such, Lisa Peck has notified us that Kearny has temporarily ceased taking applications for the time being. Though they hope to restart accepting applications in the near future, for the time being we respectfully request that Members cease sending her PPP requests.
Nevertheless, Scott Seidman and Heartland Capital are continuing to accept applications at this time. If your bank is unable to assist you with your PPP submission, please feel free to contact Scott at 908-334-4778 or by email at scott.seidman@e-hps.com.
While frustration and confusion on the PPP-front is not "good", it is far from unexpected. The program was passed, implemented, and handed to banks at a lightning pace. There was bound to be problems with the rollout, but it's important to note that this is a nationwide problem -- not merely a New Jersey phenomenon. All banks -- major national players to small community lenders -- have been paralyzed under the onslaught of applications at once.
It may take a while for the confusion to subside, but we strongly encourage you to keep at it. Although money is coming from the federal government, all applications are going through banks. Now the federal Treasury is looking to add another $250B in relief funds as the original amount may have already proved insufficient based on the volume of applications.
UST REQUIREMENTS
For those of you that have asked us because you have testing requirements for compliance that are due or coming up, you need to know that NJDEP is not offering any delays or forgiveness. All of the testing companies are working and can safely come to your location and do any leak detection, lime tests, or testing requirements for your vapor recovery if you are still hooked up to stage II vapor recovery. It is extremely important that you understand that this crisis is not delaying any of your compliance requirements. NJDEP may not inspect your stations for a year, but if they check your records and test requirements were not done on time you will be cited.
HAPPY EASTER/PASSOVER
Finally, I want to wish you all a happy Passover and Easter. Both of these holidays are about a time of renewal and new beginnings. In this new reality we are currently facing, I hope you all take the time to appreciate and enjoy the quality time with your families and make the best of the holiday.
Be Well -
Sal Risalvato
Executive Director
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Training Class Schedule
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All classes held at NJGCA HQ -- 4900 Route 33 West, Wall Township, NJ 07753
ALL CLASSES CANCELED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE
Two-Day Emissions Inspector Training Class
April 22nd & 23rd
Want your technicians to become a NJ Emissions Inspector? We can help!
Our new two-day class will provide all the information for becoming a NJ Emissions Inspector. Day one will consist of written test training and the State will administer the written test the very same day at our offices. Day two will be a hands-on training course to prepare you for the hands-on test. Class will run from 7:00am to 4:00pm on day 1. Class will begin at 12:30 PM on day 2. Cost is $479 for members.
April class registration click here
FUTURE CLASSES WILL BE ADDED UPON REQUEST AND ACCORDING TO DEMAND. CONTACT NICK at 732-256-9646 or NICK@NJGCA.ORG TO LET HIM KNOW YOU ARE INTERESTED IN TAKING A SPECIFIC CLASS. THIS WILL ALLOW US TO GAUGE YOUR NEEDS AND KEEP TRACK OF THOSE WISHING TO PARTICIPATE! |
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News Around The State
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4/8/20
Pandemic Deals Blow To Plastic Bag Bans, Plastic Reduction
Just weeks ago, cities and even states across the U.S. were busy banning straws, limiting takeout containers and mandating that shoppers bring reusable bags or pay a small fee as the movement to eliminate single-use plastics took hold in mainstream America. What a difference a pandemic makes. In a matter of days, hard-won bans to reduce the use of plastics - and particularly plastic shopping sacks - across the U.S. have come under fire amid worries about the virus clinging to reusable bags, cups and straws. Governors in Massachusetts and Illinois have banned or strongly discouraged the use of reusable grocery bags. Oregon suspended its brand-new ban on plastic bags this week, and cities from Bellingham, Washington, to Albuquerque, New Mexico, have announced a hiatus on plastic bag bans as the coronavirus rages.
4/8/20
Mnuchin Speaks With Congressional Leaders About Additional $250b For Paycheck Protection Program
Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin said Tuesday he's working with congressional leaders to secure an additional $250 billion to the Paycheck Protection Program loans to help small businesses reeling from the coronavirus pandemic. Mnuchin tweeted that at President Trump's direction, he's held discussions with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., about procuring the extra funding. Mnuchin's tweet comes quickly after McConnell said Tuesday he will attempt to swiftly pass additional funds for small businesses.
4/7/20
New York Region Governors Plan Coordinated Economic Restart
The governors of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut will take a regional approach to reopening the economy when it is safe to do so, mirroring the coordinated shutdown they undertook to reduce the spread of the coronavirus. Even as the states each announced record death counts, with more than 1,000 people dying across the region over the past 24 hours, the leaders said it was time to start planning the best way to rollback their lockdown orders in the coming months. "We're working on a plan with Connecticut and New Jersey because when we go back, we go back together," New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said on Tuesday during a daily press briefing in Albany.
4/7/20
Gov. Phil Murphy On Trenton Curfew: 'there's One Set Of Executive Orders'
The capital city's 8 p.m. curfew is a "recommendation," not a mandate, Gov. Phil Murphy said. Murphy was asked at his briefing Wednesday to weigh in on cities like Trenton and Newark that have imposed additional restrictions that go beyond his statewide mandates amid the global coronavirus pandemic. Trenton Mayor Reed Gusciora instituted a mandatory 8 p.m. curfew on Monday in response to a spate of violence over the weekend. But the governor said his orders supersede Gusciora's. "There's one set of executive orders," Murphy said, "that hold, that matter, that overarch all others, and they're ours. We have to have one state. ... I think, as it turns out, most of these are recommendations as opposed to hard-and-fast executive orders. There's no question which executive order has primacy, and that will stay that way." The city continues to enforce curfew, for the time being, as police issued eights summonses overnight to individuals for not following the mayor's edict.
4/7/20
NJDEA Rolls Out Application For $10M Covid-19 Business Relief Loan (Updated)
The New Jersey Economic Development Authority rolled out the specifics for how businesses hurt by the COVID-19 pandemic can apply for a $10 million state loan program, after a similarly-natured grant program was depleted just an hour after applications opened on April 3.
A copy of the application for the Small Business Emergency Assistance Loan program was posted on the EDA's website on Monday evening. Companies can apply starting 9 a.m. on April 13. In the meantime, business owners can use an online "eligibility wizard" to gauge which state assistance programs could help them the most.
4/7/20
Visa Denies NACS Request for EMV Delay
Visa yesterday denied a request to delay the EMV liability shift deadline for automated fuel dispensers (AFDs). The deadline, which is set for October 1, 2020, has become unfeasible for many retailers as a result of the global COVID 19 pandemic. NACS sent joint association letters to the four global card networks requesting a delay after it became evident that retailers were facing significant disruptions to both the workforce and the supply chain. In its denial of the request, Visa stated that it is monitoring the situation and believes that it is too soon to determine if a delay of the liability shift is needed. NACS would argue otherwise as the deadline is less than six months away and retailers are facing millions in potential fraud losses.
4/2/20
Small Business, Outgunned in Washington, Has Survival Fears
The lobbying blitz over the record stimulus package that President Donald Trump signed last week is forcing small businesses to confront a harsh reality in Washington: They can't match the muscle that big corporations wield on Capitol Hill. Small-business advocates say they are on the losing end of the $2 trillion coronavirus-rescue program, even as Trump touts it as the means by which the federal government will keep small business alive in the face of mass shutdowns.
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Energy Information Agency Weekly Retail Gasoline Prices
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Each week, the Energy Information Administration publishes a list of average gasoline prices for the previous three weeks. NJGCA will begin including this list with the Weekly Road Warrior. Remember, these prices are reflective of self-serve everywhere except NJ.
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Classifieds: For Sale and Help Wanted Ads
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NEW!
FOR SALE:
Business For Sale: Monmouth County gas station and repair shop in business since 2001 is for sale. Owner is relocating out of state and is interested in selling business and equipment. Owner is open to limited financing. Business has a strong 10 year lease. The building has two repair bays and the gas pumps are leased to a large independent tenant. Repair shop business currently employs a Manager and two full-time Technicians. For inquiries and more info, please call Mark at 908-670-7798.
New! Parts For Sale: Incon TS-1000 tank monitor works well just taken out of service. Printer is aprox 2 months old. Also, Incon 8, tank probes. System replaced because on an Exxon upgrade. Call John Twin Towers Exxon (201) 224-8444
 
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