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MAY 22 - J U N E 4, 2020
IN BRIEF Ernesto Burden Vice President/Publisher eburden@mcleancommunications.com, ext. 5117
Lukewarm reception for Covid liability protection
A proposal to shield New Hampshire protocols to protect public health. Only if there were “clear and convincing evidence” that businesses from liability arising from the Covid-19 virus received a lukewarm re- exposure resulted from “gross negligence, willful misconception May 6, when it was presented to duct, intentional criminal conduct or intentional infliction of Liisa Rajala Associate Editor the Governor’s Economic Re-Opening harm” on the part of the business could it be held liable. lrajala@nhbr.com, ext. 5158 Harris echoed the BIA by saying that without a measure Task Force. Bob Sanders Staff Writer A day earlier, the Business and Industry of protection against liability there was a heightened risk bsanders@nhbr.com, ext. 5136 Association of New Hampshire had asked of slowing the pace of economic recovery, as some firms Gov. Chris Sununu to declare an emer- would choose to remain shuttered while others trimmed Mista McDonnell Business Manager gency order that would spare businesses their operations and workforce. mmcdonnell@nhbr.com, ext. 5114 NASHUA REGION in compliance with prescribed LAKES REGION NORTH COUNTRY Sen. Kevin Cavanaugh, D-Manchester, chair of the Senate operating Jodie Hall Creative Services Director public health guidelines from liability Commerce Committee — who with Sen. Martha Hennessy, jhall@nhbr.com, ext. 5122 should an employee, customer or client D-Hanover, had written to the governor the day before callNancy Tichanuk Senior Graphic Artist sickened by the virus file a personal injury ing the proposal “a mistake” — acknowledged the imporntichanuk@mcleancommunications.com, ext. 5116 suit. The emergency order was intended tance of the issue. But he said that it was outside the scope Attorney James Harris, who wrote proas a prelude to pursuing legislation with of the task force. Robin Saling Graphic Artist posed language for potential legislation, TOP ROW: BUSINESS TECH, ARCHITECTURE, ENGINEERING, HOSPITALS, BANKING, FINANCE, ENERGYrethe same intentPERSONAL when the Legislature Sen. Sharon Carson, R-Londonderry, cautioned that “this rsaling@nhbr.com, ext. 5124 said that without liability protection SECOND ROW: FEATURE STORY AND JUMPS, IN BRIEF, FLOTSAM, LAW, OPINIONS, THE LATEST, ABOUT TOWN convenes. will get complicated,” suggesting the issue be vetted by the there was a heightened risk of a slower Kimberly Lencki AdvertisingTHIRD Sales Director ROW: REAL ESTATE + CONSTRUCTION, EDUCATION, HEALTHCARE, TOURISM, NEWS, CHARITABLE GIVING, MORE ONLINE The overture included draft language, New Hampshire Bar Association. “In particular, she raised economic recovery. klencki@mcleancommunications.com, 5154 AREA GRAPHICS, another TOURISM choice, CALENDAR, LAST WORD FORTHext.ROW: prepared by a team of attorneys, which the question of creating a precedent, which she said “could Karen Bachelder Sales Executive Jim Roche, president of the BIA, said be applied to any communicable virus, including the comkbachelder@nhbr.com, ext. 5148 could serve as a basis of both the emergency order and mon cold.” subsequent legislation. Meanwhile, the governor, questioned at a press briefing Cynthia Stone Sales Executive James Harris, an attorney at Sheehan Phinney who served on Wednesday, replied “it is a very serious issue” and “we’re cstone@nhbr.com, ext. 5146 with the drafting team, told the task force that the proposal looking at it. There are a lot of businesses that should be Connie McCullion Sales Executive would provide that no business shall be liable for personal protected. Absolutely.” cmccullion@nhbr.com, ext. 5121 injury caused by exposure to coronavirus while working But he also repeated that “it’s a question that should be for or otherwise engaged with the business, provided answered at the federal level by Congress and not at the Ronnie Schlender Special Projects Sales that the business was complying with all guidance and state level.” — MICHAEL KITCH Representative Jeff Feingold Editor jfeingold@nhbr.com, ext. 5118
rschlender@nhbr.com, ext. 5150 Angela LeBrun Sales & Marketing Coordinator alebrun@mcleancommunications.com, ext. 5120 Emily Samatis Event & Marketing Manager esamatis@mcleancommunications.com, ext. 5125 Kristine Senna Event Coordinator ksenna@mcleancommunications.com, ext. 5113 Heather Rood Business and Sales Coordinator hrood@mcleancommunications.com, ext. 5110 Morgen Connor Digital Media Specialist mconnor@mcleancommunications.com, ext. 5149 Brook Holmberg Vice President, Consumer Marketing brookh@yankeepub.com Sherin Pierce Vice President, Retail Sales sherinp@yankeepub.com
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Bicycle shops’ inventory While the coronavirus pandemic has shuttered many businesses this spring, local bicycle shops have seen record numbers as people are stuck at home and are looking for a way to exercise. Yet the shops are also being bit by the virus, due to its effects on the other side of the world. Included in the governor’s list of “essential businesses,” bicycle shops have been permitted to keep their doors open even while others have been ordered closed. Pat Bolduc, who runs the bicycle operation at Piche’s Ski and Sport in Gilford, said service has been able to continue without a “hiccup.” Sales, on the other hand, are about to hit a rough patch, due to the supply chain that delivers new bicycles to local showrooms. Most bikes, especially those made for children or the entry-level adult category, are made in Asia, where production was shut down when the coronavirus infection began spreading in China. Bolduc said he’s sold out of most of his inventory, and has just a “very limited” supply remaining. A few miles down the road, Myles Chase at MC Cycle and Sport said he’s seen much of the same thing. He said his spring has been “definitely above average.”
This year, though, MC Cycle’s spring inventory started to dry up by mid-March, about a month and a half earlier than usual. He said he doesn’t know how soon his suppliers will be able to send him another delivery. “They really don’t have a firm date on it yet, because like most of the bike brands out there, our price-point bikes are made in China, and their factories shut down 12, 16 weeks ago. At that time they would be working on our summertime inventory. Unless the brands expedite things, we could be without bikes for some time,” Chase said. “The inventory is not even available for us to order,” said Steve Flagg, owner of The Nordic Skier in Wolfeboro. His shop deals in cross-country skis in the winter and switches to bicycles once the snow melts. Flagg said his shop has seen an unusually heavy repair load this year. “It’s always busier in the spring for bike shops, but it’s got to be related to the current pandemic,” Flagg said, adding that he’s getting close to sold-out for new bikes. And if customers can’t get a new one, they want to get their old bike road-worthy.
“There definitely seems to be a lot of people bringing in their old bikes, they haven’t ridden it in years, they need a tune up and new tires. A lot of it is driven by what the world is experiencing,” Flagg said. — ADAM DRAPCHO/ THE LACONIA DAILY SUN
Tim White, a technician at The Nordic Skier in Wolfeboro tunes up a customer’s bicycle. (Courtesy photo)
