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February 14, 2019

Dear NJGCA Member:

Thank you for reading this week's NJGCA Road Warrior!

Here is what you will find in this edition:

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S MESSAGE:

• Motor Fuel License Renewal Information; NJGCA Self Serve Efforts; ICYMI: NJGCA Member Interview on Minimum Wage; Magnuson-Moss Update; State of Emergency

NJGCA CLASSIFIEDS
- Mercer County: Gas Station for Sale
- Monmouth County: Gas Station and Repair Shop Business Since 2001

NEWS AROUND THE STATE

• Euro Garages Reinvents Petrol Stations
• Philadelphia Wants to Ban Cashless Stores
• Murphy Announces Apprenticeship Grants To Help Workers Get A Leg Up
• New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy Sits Down With Eyewitness News To Discuss Minimum Wage Hike

TRAINING CLASS SCHEDULE!

??????• EMISSIONS INSPECTOR TRAINING CLASS: THURSDAY, February 28th, March TBD.
??????• ENTIRE EMISSION REPAIR TECHNICIAN PROGRAM: Coming Soon in February/March
??????• RECERTIFICATION EMISSION REPAIR TECHNICIAN PROGRAM: Coming Soon in February/March

MEMBER BENEFIT PARTNER MESSAGE BOARD
• The Amato Agency: Garage Insurance and Workers Compensation!
• ATS Environmental: Confidence in your Tank & Compliance Testing
• Bellomo Fuel: Exceptional Service, Aggressive Petroleum Marketing
• CBIZ Insurance: Our Business is Growing Yours!
• Gill Energy: Getting you There!
• Lending Capital: "Commercial Loans Made Easy" Program
• Salomone Brothers: Tank Testing and Environmental Compliance
• TMP Energy Solutions: Another Way to Save On Your Energy Bills

POLITICAL PARTICIPATON: THE NJGCA PAC
• Participate in the NJGCA PAC today and help us keep our Agenda rolling in Trenton!

Energy Information Agency Weekly Retail Gasoline Prices

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TO SEE OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL -- CLICK HERE
FOLLOW US ON TWITTER-- CLICK HERE

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S MESSAGE:

MOTOR FUEL LICENSE RENEWAL INFORMATION
NJGCA SELF SERVE EFFORTS
ICYMI: NJGCA MEMBER INTERVIEW ON MINIMUM WAGE
MAGNUSON-MOSS UPDATE
STATE OF EMERGENCY

MOTOR FUEL LICENSE RENEWAL

First, I want to remind you all that motor fuels licenses must be renewed by the end of March. Do not expect a form to come in the mail, it is up to you to know that the license must be renewed. The renewal form for Motor Fuels is location on the Department of Treasury Motor Fuels Tax Forms website. You will need to complete the MFA-1 Form, the “Motor Fuels Application and Instructions.”

SELF SERVE

While we are on the subject of motor fuels; we are trying to use recent action by the legislature to raise the minimum wage as another reason why the state should end its ban on self serve gasoline. Recently, a group of members met with Senator Paul Sarlo, who is a strong proponent of abolishing the ban on self serve. We are now making a bigger effort to meet with and identify legislators who will support our effort to remove the ban. Eric is in the process of scheduling meetings around the state with legislators. It will be very helpful if members who either live or own their business in the legislator’s district will attend these meetings with us and explain why permitting motorists to pump their own gas will help their businesses. Please contact Eric to let him know if you are interested in attending a meeting with your legislator: eric@njgca.org

MINIMUM WAGE

Earlier this week, we sent out an In Case You Missed It email highlighting NJGCA member Danho Jallo’s interview on channel 7 Eyewitness News. He did this as part of media coverage on raising the minimum wage to $15 per hour and did an excellent job representing our industry. You can watch Danho’s interview HERE in case you didn't get a chance to view it earlier.

NJGCA member Danho Jallo and ABC 7’s Anthony Johnson at Danho’s Parlin Exxon station.

MAGNUSON-MOSS

Last week I mentioned that we were finally gaining some traction on a bill to have car manufacturers notify new car purchasers that their warranties would not be voided as a result of bringing their car to your shops for service. The Senate Commerce Committee took testimony last Thursday and unanimously passed the bill out of committee. We are waiting word to hear when this bill will be heard in the Assembly, I will keep you updated.

STATE OF EMERGENCY

Because of the expected snowstorm, the governor declared a state of emergency. I always take these opportunities to remind you that gouging laws are in effect while there is a state of emergency. Obviously the storm fizzled, I’m sure the governor will rescind the state of emergency quickly.

***

Unless there is anything urgent, you will not receive a Road Warrior next week, as I will be away. If something urgent comes up or there are any surprises in Trenton, Michelle will send out the Road Warrior with any pertinent information, otherwise, I’ll see you in two weeks when I return.

That's all for this week-

Sal Risalvato
Executive Director

TRAINING CLASSES
All classes held at NJGCA HQ -- 4900 Route 33 West, Wall Township, NJ 07753

Emissions Inspector Training Class - One Day Only!
THURSDAY, February 28th, 2019 -- 7 AM to 3 PM
OR
March TBD -- 7 AM to 3 PM

Want one of your technicians to become a NJ Emissions Inspector? We can help! Our one-day class will provide all the information for becoming a NJ Emissions Inspector, and the State will administer the written test the very same day at our offices! We are offering the class: Monday, January 28th, Thursday, February 28th, and Tuesday, March 26th from 7:00am to 3:00pm. Cost is $275 for members. Click HERE for the February registration form. March date coming soon.

Want to become an emission repair technician/facility?
Entire Emission Technician Education Program (ETEP) Training Classes
Sections 1-7
1 PM to 9 PM
February through March: Exact dates coming soon!

Sections 8, 9, 10 (RECERTIFICATION)
1 PM to 9 PM
February through March: Exact dates coming soon!

Stop turning away work!

The New Jersey Inspection Program requires vehicles that fail emissions inspection to go to a Licensed Certified Emission Repair Facility and have a Licensed Emission Repair Technician perform the repairs! When the new Emissions Inspection program begins, a list of Certified Emission Repair Facilities will be given to the vehicle owners who fail the New Jersey Emission Inspection. If you want your business name on the list – make sure you have a Certified Licensed Emission Repair Technician and you are licensed as a Emission Repair Facility! Those signing up for the FULL training course will attend sections 1-10. Full ETEP class fees for members are $2,195 and non-members are $2,395. Recertification fees for members are $729 and non-members are $879.

FUTURE CLASSES WILL BE ADDED UPON REQUEST AND ACCORDING TO DEMAND. CONTACT DEBBIE at 732-256-9646 or DEBBIE@NJGCA.ORG TO LET HER 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!

CLASSIFIEDS -- FOR SALE & HELP WANTED ADS

NEW!
FOR SALE:
GAS STATION FOR SALE
EWING NEW JERSEY
OWNER RETIRING
CALL: 609-882-1105

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.

NEWS AROUND THE STATE: THE NEWS YOU SHOULD KNOW

2/13/19
Euro Garages Reinvents Petrol Stations
Today, Euro Garages has opened 380 locations in England, and since 2016, has purchased thousands more locations in Germany, Belgium, Italy, France and the Netherlands, writes the news source. In addition, the company has expanded into the United States with a purchase last year of nearly 1,000 locations, and another 560 in Australia. . .The secret to their success has been their willingness to make changes. For example, the Issas made sure all fuel types could be accessed from the same pump, as well as adding forecourt lights for more security. They put in grocery stores and fast-food chains to create shopping destinations beyond filling up at the pump. Those changes means Euro Garage makes around two-thirds of its income from fast-food and shops, rather than fuel sales.

2/12/19
Philadelphia Wants to Ban Cashless Stores
The Law and Government Committee approved a bill by 4-1 after a hearing that would prohibit most city stores from going cashless. According to Philly.com, the bill would prohibit retail locations from refusing to accept cash or charging cash-paying customers a higher price and violators could be fined up to $2,000. The bill will now proceed to the full Council for consideration this week.

2/11/19
Murphy Announces Apprenticeship Grants To Help Workers Get A Leg Up
Sansone Auto Mall is a sprawling complex on Route 1 in the Avenel section of Woodbridge. Gov. Phil Murphy came to give a $440,000 apprenticeship grant as part of a $10 million program in the current-year budget called the New Jersey Apprenticeship Network. . .The idea is to give a boost to those who need a skill they can parlay into a job or a career. Murphy said he’s talking about middle-skills jobs that start at around $50,000 a year and can eventually become $100,000 jobs.

2/8/19
New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy Sits Down With Eyewitness News To Discuss Minimum Wage Hike
The day the governor signed the bill was welcomed by many. He believes it was the right thing to do for workers in the state. . . But in a state where taxes, insurance and competition are high, the wage hike could hurt small business. "It's a recipe to be out of business for small business because right now we're only forced to cut the number of employees or cut the hours of employees," said Danho Jallo, who has owned an Exxon gas station on Route 9 in Parlin for years and says he is still trying to figure out how to handle the wage hike. "Why get involved in this and set a standard that's higher than we can achieve," he said.

MEMBER BENEFIT PARTNER MESSAGE BOARD:

TMP Energy Solutions

Another Way to Save on Your Energy Bills

We have had a number of NJGCA members successfully reduce their rate per kWh signing up through our energy saving program. We know it's difficult to collect 12 months worth of previous electric bills to get an "accurate" analysis when comparing a variable rate to a fixed rate, but we now have another option available.

This new solution is a power purchase option; the other program is still in full force and has saved members thousands of dollars. If you sign up for the power purchase option, you will be grouped with other NJGCA members until the minimum kW demand is acquired. By pooling the member's usage together, you will be able to take advantage, as large energy users do, and receive a lower kWh rate.

Each member will receive their own contract. Each member is responsible to sign and return the agreement the day it is received in order to secure the price for their group. Please do your due diligence, so when you receive the proposal and the agreement you will be able to make an intelligent decision.

If by chance, you still want us to assess you bills, to give you a price to compare, we will require 12 months of your most recent utility bills. There are no bills required, but we would still like to have one bill per meter on file to check account #'s, meter #'s service addresses and other pertinent information incase there is a problem.

The term of the agreement is for 12 months. During this term period, you will have price protection against any energy price increases along with a low fixed kWh rate.

If you are interested in becoming part of this power purchase option, please contact Greg Cannon at the NJGCA.

Remember when you sign up your energy through the NJGCA Energy Program, TMP makes a considerable donation to the NJGCA Scholarship Fund through their proceeds. This has no affect on your rate, and costs you nothing out of pocket.

We hope to help hundreds of NJGCA members reduce their utility costs by participating in this and our other cost reduction programs. Our purpose, in the endeavor, is to help NJGCA members lower their energy costs while supporting the NJGCA Scholarship Fund.

Contact GREG CANNON at 732-256-9646 or email Greg at greg@njgca.org. Mention that you are interested in saving money on your energy bills. NJGCA & TMP Energy Solutions will handle all the rest.

POLITICAL PARTICIPATION: THE NJGCA PAC

DEFENDING OUR MEMBERS.
PROTECTING YOUR INTERESTS.
ANSWER THE CALL & CONTRIBUTE TODAY!!

Promoting our agenda in Trenton is of utmost importance to NJGCA and our members.

However, in order to truly affect the debate, we must ensure our friends in the Legislature are re-elected. It is for this reason that your Association has established the NJGCA PAC.

For too long, the weight of funding our Political Action Committee, the arm of the Association responsible for political donations, has rested upon a few. This is not only unfair to those few members who have shouldered this burden, but means we are not utilizing our full strength to affect the debate in Trenton.

To truly understand the importance of supporting our allies, consider our successes in Trenton:

We defeated BELOW COST SELLING
We made history in getting FIRST RIGHT OF REFUSAL signed into law!
We have built large support for RIGHT TO REPAIR and got it passed out of the Assembly
We defended your small business against the false accusations of Attorney General Anne Milgram
We gained wide support to move New Jersey to an all PIF Inspection System and close the CIF lanes
...and MUCH MORE!!

In each instance, we achieved these goals with the help of our friends in the Legislature!

If every member contributes just $100.00 we will be able to provide the help necessary to ensure victory for our allies.

PLEASE SEND YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS TO:
NJGCA PAC
4900 Route 33 West, Suite 100
Wall Township, NJ 07753
Please make your donation payable to NJGCA PAC

I understand that times are tough for all NJGCA members, but this is just as important as any battle we have fought in the past.

We have made great progress in Trenton. I hope that you will answer the call.

Energy Information Agency Weekly Retail Gasoline Prices

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.