Melrose's Swearing-In Ceremony Tonight

UPDATE: The city on Friday morning opened the ceremony to the media.

MELROSE, MA — The city's inauguration ceremony that will see City Councilors and School Committee members sworn in will be closed to the public due to the COVID-19 surge.

Each of the City Councilors and School Committee members will be allowed to bring up to four people, according to some of the elected officials, but the event will be closed to the public and media.

"As COVID-19 cases in Melrose and across Massachusetts continue to rise, this year’s event is invite-only – closed to both the public and the media – in an effort to keep guests of the Inaugural safe," the city said in a release.

The ceremony is taking place Monday night at 7:30 at Memorial Hall and broadcast live on MMTV.

The city said there is a possibility the event will become entirely virtual, but the plan is to have the ceremony in-person.

Mayor Paul Brodeur, City Council President Chris Cinella and School Committee Chair Jen McAndrew are scheduled to speak. Melrose High senior Kate Sikkemma will lead the Pledge of Allegiance.

Only three of the elected officials — School Committee member Dorie Withey and City Councilors Manjula Karamcheti and Ryan William — are being sworn in for the first time. John Obremski, who has served on School Committee, will be sworn into City Council.