While he won't be able to keep a pledge to open a Licensing and Consumer Affairs Department office on St. John, Commissioner Andrew Rutnik says he will begin using electronic mail and accepting charge card payment for some services to the island's business people.
Speaking at Friday's St. John Rotary Club meeting, Commissioner Andrew Rutnik reminded members of the promise he had made at the start of the Turnbull administration to open a full-service branch on the island. However, he said, the need to cut personnel and other costs will keep him from delivering.
"I promised when I first came on board and spoke before the St. John Action Committee that we were going to offer a full-time office on St. John," he told the Rotarians and guests. "We have not been able to do that. That was one of those positions that we had to cut back."
Instead, Rutnik, a St. John resident, said, he's planning to deliver electronic licensing services using the Internet. Also, he said, he will be making arrangements for local banks to accept charge cards for payment of license renewal fees.
"In other words, you can sit in your office, you can contact [the Internal Revenue Bureau], request your tax letter, contact Licensing," he said. "When we have that in hand through electronic mail, pay for the license with a credit card and never leave your office."
The e-mail service will apply only for businesses seeking license renewals, he said. Other LCA services for St. John — such as inspections, weights and measures enforcement, and response to consumer complaints — will be handled by Leona Smith, longtime St. John licensing agent.
Rutnik noted that, as has been the case for several years, Smith's duties take her off island for some days each week. He asked the island's business community to bear with his agency as the government restructures its financial operations.
