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Clifton council approves two‑month rent‑relief option for Belle Jar Design
Summary
The council approved a two‑month extension of a reduced $800 monthly rent for Belle Jar Design for July and August 2020 and discussed CARES Act eligibility; the request was supported by council members and accompanied by written correspondence from Belle Jar owners.
The Clifton Town Council approved a two‑month extension of rent relief for Belle Jar Design at its June 23 work session.
Mayor Bill Hollaway moved to add the Belle Jar rent‑relief request to the agenda and then moved to offer the extension for July and August; Councilmember Melissa Milne seconded the motion. The roll‑call vote recorded Hollaway, Effros, Milne, McDonald, Hinderstein and Poe as voting Aye.
Councilmembers discussed CARES Act eligibility in the same exchange. Alyson Pollard asked whether businesses that receive private rent relief could still qualify for CARES Act funds. Councilmember Regan McDonald clarified that the town’s prior rent concession had been granted before CARES Act awards and that the Town could not use CARES Act funds to offset its rent concession; Councilmember Darrell Poe said rent relief from private entities does not in itself preclude CARES Act eligibility.
The meeting packet included forwarded emails from Mayor Hollaway and a message from Belle Jar co‑owner Laura Jane Cohen requesting that the reduced $800 rent be extended for July and August while the shop’s reopening produced limited revenue. The packet also included written comments from local business owner Ronnie Martinez describing hardship and urging relief.
The council did not record additional conditions on the Belle Jar extension during the work session; the extension was approved by roll call.
