Regulatory Fairness Board to monitor business climate

AUGUSTA – Maine businesses will have a new conduit to state government with the creation of the state’s first Regulatory Fairness Board to hear testimony and report to the Legislature and governor on regulatory and statutory changes to enhance the state’s business climate.

At a press conference at noon today, Sen. Lynn Bromley, D-South Portland, and Rep. Nancy Smith, D-Monmouth, who are the sponsor and co-sponsor of the legislation that created the board, will be joined by Wick Johnson, owner of Augusta-based Kennebec Tool and Die, members of the board, House Speaker John Richardson and representatives of several business groups.

Representing business groups will be David Clough of the National Federation of Independent Businesses in Maine, Ruth Lawson-Stopps of the Maine Small Business Alliance, Eloise Vitelli of Women Work and Community, and a representative of the state’s Small Business Development Centers.

They will talk about the need for the board and how it will serve as a tool for Maine business. The board is based on a model established by the U.S. Small Business Administration. The board will meet three times annually to hear business owners’ concerns about enforcement activities by the state.

All seven nominees to the board have been named and will hold their first meeting in mid- to late February.