Local
Unfair Norfolk BPOL Audits
The coalition of small businesses currently audited by the Norfolk Commissioner of the Revenue is meeting this month with state legislators to pursue a change in the BPOL laws.  At its monthly meeting, the coalition received an overview of the inconsistencies in the BPOL local ordinances and state guidelines.  The group was also made aware that the maritime industry in Norfolk has been given special treatment by the Norfolk City Council which capped the industry's BPOL tax at $2500 annually.  Moreover, Delegate Ken Alexander, Norfolk, encouraged the group to address BPOL reform at the upcoming General Assembly session. 

At the state level, the coalition will request an amendment to the BPOL code which will establish a retail revenue threshold for interior design and frame shop that want to apply for a retail-only or retail/service license.  Also, the Virginia Retail Federation will continue to interview economists that work with the Virginia General Assembly to study BPOL reform and retail profit margins.  A BPOL study request was put forward by the VRF in 2006.

The next coalition meeting is September 17, 8:30 a.m., at Retail Alliance.  For more information, contact Margaret Ballard.

State
Virginia Retail Federation Granted Hearing for Small Grocers
The Virginia Retail Federation (VRF) requested and has been granted a hearing concerning the loss of WIC (Women, Infant and Children) authorizations statewide.  Senator Frank Wagner, Virginia Beach, chairman of the Joint Commission on Legislative Rules at the Virginia General Assembly, has scheduled the hearing September 11 in Richmond.  Sheila Brewer, vendor manager for WIC Services at the Virginia Department of Health, will be called to testify.  The senator will ask her to address the program's criteria for prohibiting small, sole proprietor groceries from offering WIC products to their qualified customers.  The VRF and the Virginia Petroleum Convenience and Grocery Association will represent the grocers before the commission.  The VRF was called on to help by Delegate Harvey Morgan, Gloucester, when small groceries in his district received notice from the state that their WIC authorizations will cease. 

At the VRF's request, Senator Wagner also asked General Assembly legal staff to implement the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and request a list of the grocers statewide who will be eliminated from the WIC program.  Ms. Brewer turned down the FOIA request citing federal regulations that oversee the program.  For more information, contact Margaret Ballard at 757-406-9431.

Antique Dealers Look for Consensus on Counterfeit Issues
At the first antique dealers statewide meeting, hosted by the VRF, dealers met with Delegate Joe May, Leesburg, to review legislation he introduced at the 2008 General Assembly session.  In an attempt to combat competition from counterfeit antiques, the delegate sponsored a bill that defined antiques and instituted various requirements in tagging, invoicing and advertising.  The bill also included a $500 misdemeanor penalty for non-compliance.  The VRF requested that Delegate May carry over the bill in order to allow the merchants to give feedback.

At the meeting, sole proprietor antique dealers strongly objected to the burdens imposed by the legislation.  VRF staff offered to research the Virginia code to explore other sections that would allow prosecution of counterfeit antiques.  Ken Woolard, owner of Way Back Yonder in Portsmouth and a Retail Alliance board member, also suggested exploring the federal McKinley Act which imposes country of origin labeling on certain imported products.

In other initiatives, the group agreed that an antique dealers' accreditation program may help solve the problem.  The coalition will meet in October to examine the accreditation proposal as well as results of legislative research from VRF staff.