Meeting Minutes

PABA / Chamber of Commerce Combined Meeting.

Meeting was held at the Red Lion Inn and called to order by Chamber Executive Director, Marc Abshire at 7:30am.

Association of Washington Business Vice President, Gary Chandler, said of the 16 outreach meetings held so far, Port Angeles was the smallest city, but had the largest audience.

Questions / Answers / Comments for and from the AWB and the audience:

Regulations:  Health insurances increases. L&I, independent contractors, return to work program. Are rules lacking or taxing? How do you build a busniness?

B & O structure:  Net tax is really an income tax.

New Salary Overtime Rule: Cumbersome, especially for those paying an hourly wage.

Productive Time Scheduling: Part-timers have to be given 2 – 3 weeks notice of scheduling.

Minimum Wage: Training period should be included at a lower wage.

Do you cut costs or staff?  Technology will continue to take over many jobs that humans now do.

Urban v Rural Areas:  Why not a three tier system like Oregon?

Should County or City establish the minimum wage since the state doesn’t know the area or the situation?

Are too many not working because of free ticket they get by not working?

Need to test / reassess those on welfare?

Transportation to and from the Peninsula is a problem.

Where is the capital?

How do you get the capital to start a business?

How does the little business get a loan?

AWB has 8,000 members, is the largest and oldest around.  Aim is to help 85% who have less than 15 employees but still not forget those who have 15,000 employees.  AWB is the State Chamber.  Is concerned with carbon tax and clean water standards.

What can AWB do for you?  What can AWB do for the Chamber?