Diane Walden is reporting in The Columbia Paper on March19 Ancram Town Board meeting. The full board, as well as the town clerk and the town highway superintendent, were present, notwithstanding the ongoing coronavirus emergency, in town hall, which was closed to the public. In his financial report, town Supervisor Art Bassin said the impact of the pandemic will likely have a negative impact on 2020 sales tax receipts. Towns will be lucky to get 50 percent of the projected amounts, as restaurants and other enterprises go out of business and purchasing and sales drop. However, the lack of snow over the winter has left the town with a full inventory of sand and salt, and fuel prices are way down, he said. Councilman David Boice noted the town will likely not take a hit on mortgage sales tax because “a lot of people want out of downstate, they are looking for land — like in 2001.” Later in the meeting he observed there “are a lot more people in the area now than usual.” The supervisor mentioned the Ancramdale Neighbors Helping Neighbors Association has put out a message saying they are ready to help anyone who needs it and they are seeking to enlist new younger volunteers. He said that while some new volunteers have stepped forward, no one has asked for help yet. Looking ahead, Bassin said if schools do not reopen before summer, the county may close all summer camps and pools for the season. Read the full story in The Columbia Paper.