City Councilor Calls On Answers For Melrose Business Community

MELROSE, MA — A City Councilor is requesting city, state and business leaders help provide answers for local business owners who find themselves in a shroud of uncertainty amid the coronavirus crisis.

Councilor-At-Large Maya Jamaleddine filed an order this week that requires Mayor Paul Brodeur's administration to appear before the Council "to provide an update on municipal efforts to assist and support local businesses affected by the novel coronavirus, including, but not be limited to, information regarding the Small Business Task Force established by the Mayor’s Office."

Jamaleddine also asked for representation from the offices of U.S. Rep. Katherine Clark, State Sen. Jason Lewis and State Rep. Kate Lipper-Garabedian, as well as Lauren Grymek, the Chamber of Commerce's executive director.

"I feel that a lot of business owners — members or non-members — on Main St. and in stores or running from their own homes — they've been struggling to find answers and resources to support them during this pandemic," Jamaleddine told Patch. "A lot of them are struggling and at any time risking foreclosure.

"We're trying our best to support them but it would be easier for us to provide them resources. We might not be able to provide them answers but we should have the guts to say that we don't have the answer."

The Small Business Task Force was announced by Brodeur two weeks ago, but there has been no information on who it involves or what it will do. Brodeur's office has not responded to Patch's multiple requests for information.

Grymek said the Chamber has been actively communicating with and supporting local businesses from the beginning, independent of the Task Force. The Chamber has helped some business owners navigate the Small Business Administration loans and market and promote their businesses, while trying to stay on top of what the constantly evolving situation means for each business.

Grymek said the Chamber is doing everything it can, but there are no quick fixes or easy answers.

"What we can't do is come up with a whole pot of money and start handing out grants and loans," she said.

Jamaleddine intends on asking for immediate consideration of the order at Monday night's virtual City Council meeting, meaning the discussions would happen that evening barring objection.

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