Hartford Business Journal

10 Hartford Business Journal • April 22, 2019 • www.HartfordBusiness.com FOCUS: Small Business EXPERTS CORNER How small businesses can keep up with legislative changes By Eric Cormier E mployment laws continue to evolve across the country, and Connecticut is no different. Last year, the General Assembly passed a law prohibiting employers from asking applicants about sal- ary history and, during this year's session, lawmakers are considering several proposed bills that may impact employers across the state, including establishing a paid family and medi- cal leave program and increasing the state's minimum wage. When coupled with ongoing changes at the federal level, these legislative updates can feel confusing and overwhelming to many small- company leaders. However, while new legislation can sometimes leave room for interpreta- tion, it is vital for small business own- ers to adhere to these laws to avoid costly fines or other consequences. Here are a few tips to help small busi- ness owners remain compliant while navigating an evolving legal landscape. Read the law thoroughly As simple as it sounds, some of the most pressing questions business owners may have can be answered by carefully reading the text of the law. Many small business owners may not have a dedicated legal or HR team on-site, meaning they should commit ample time to reading and under- standing all facets of the legislation. Company leaders should look for important details, such as whether the law allows exemptions based on work- force size and which employees will be directly impacted by the changes. Take a cautious approach Frequently, laws can be interpreted in several different ways and, as a re- sult, business owners might be unsure how to stay compliant. In these cases, a conservative approach may be the smartest approach. For instance, if a business owner Eric Cormier Continued on page 13 >> Continued on page 12 >> By Joe Cooper jcooper@hartfordbusiness.com W hen the state decided to shed several armory bases in recent years, some Manchester offi- cials envisioned an opportunity to redevelop its military outpost into a medical facility, given its proximity to Manchester Memorial Hospital. Those ambitions never materialized for the long-vacant armory at 330 Main St., but the 43,000-square-foot building today provides another key need for the town: commercial office space. In less than two years, developers and Bolton residents John Gasper and Peter Bonzani acquired the three-story building for $235,600 and converted the majority of its space into small-business offices. The longtime friends have filled 80 percent of the 20-plus, 400-square- foot office suites it created, with nearly all tenants — ranging from a digital radio station to a psychotherapist — coming from out of town. Tenants, on average, pay $400 a month in rent. "As far as affordable office space, something like this is hard to find in town," said Gasper, a veteran volunteer fireman who also moved his antique fire truck restoration business, Gas- per's Automotive Restoration, to the armory's gymnasium. The armory's revival is good news for the town of Manchester, which has far less office space than its smaller neighbors, including Glastonbury and East Hartford, in addition to towns like Windsor and Windsor Locks. As of year-end 2018, Manchester had just seven office buildings — not including medical facilities — com- prising 144,958 square feet of space, according to commercial broker- advisor CBRE. Only 10 percent of that space is vacant. Meantime, in its shadow, Glastonbury and East Hartford each have 1.5 million square feet of office space, with vacancy rates of 13.3 percent and 34.4 percent, respectively, CBRE data show. Manchester's lack of office space may surprise some, given its standing as a retail and restaurant hub for communi- ties east of the Connecticut River. "I've tried to fill that market," said Bonzani, who began eyeing develop- ment projects in town more than a decade ago, attracted to Manchester's prime position between UConn's Storrs campus and downtown Hart- ford. "That's really what I went after." For Rent Armory redevelopment jolts Manchester's lagging commercial office footprint Developers John Gasper and Peter Bonzani have renovated the Manchester armory at 330 Main St. into more than 20 small-business office suites. The 43,000-square-foot building was a much-needed addition to the town's sparse office-space footprint. Tenants include a wig shop (shown right). It also stores boats, cars and other automobiles. HBJ PHOTOS | JOE COOPER

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