⏩ Barkhamsted establishes reopening task force.

BARKHAMSTED — In a letter to its local businesses, members of the Board of Selectmen and Economic Development Commission announced its plans for a long-term recovery task force, established to help those businesses move forward from the coronavirus pandemic and any impact it may have had on the town’s economy.

“The town ... has has appointed a small task force to assist local businesses as they move toward recovery from the closures or partial closures resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic,” members wrote in a statement. “Our charge is to provide whatever assistance we are able to in your efforts to return to normal operations.

Two weeks ago, the Board of Selectmen voted to extend the due date for paying property taxes that are normally due on

July 1, 2020, for 90 days, meaning that taxes due in July would be due on October 1, 2020. To take advantage of this program, residents and business owners should call the tax collector’s office at 860-738-4762.

The state is publishing guidance for reopening for various types of businesses. “We will endeavor to forward these to the appropriate business as they are published. We have already done so for restaurants, (which were allowed to reopen with outside dining only), and hair salons, which are scheduled to reopen on June 1,” according to the statement.

Those in need of masks can contact the EDC members at the numbes and email below. Residents and owners can contact co-chairmen Norman Bird at 860-549-3666 or Raymond Pech at 860-309-5266, or email recovery2020@barkhamsted.us for further information.