COVID-19 Update

There were 112 cases of COVID-19 reported in Town in December of 2021 compared to 57 cases reported in December 2020. This is the highest monthly case count throughout the pandemic. Chatham’s percent positivity climbed to 11.2% as of December 30, 2021, which was the second highest of the 15 Cape towns. The Town’s average daily incidence rate also rose to 71.1 as of December 30, 2021, which was the sixth highest among Cape towns. Of the 112 cases reported in December 2021, 43 were in unvaccinated individuals.

Board of Health Mask Order

At its January 6, 2022 meeting the Board of Health issued a Mask Order effective January 7, 2022.  The Order states that masks or face coverings shall be worn:

• Whenever indoors on the premise of a business, club, or place of assembly, including but not limited to retail establishments, offices, restaurants, bars, performance venues, social clubs, event spaces, places of religious worship, libraries, and municipal buildings.

• Food service establishment customers may only remove mask/face covering when seated and consuming food and/or beverages.

• Indoor bar and dance customers may only remove mask/face covering when seated at tables or seated at a bar and consuming food and/or beverages. Patrons standing or ordering at the bar must be masked. Patrons on dance floors must be masked.

• Lodging workers and guests shall wear mask/face covering inside hallways and common areas.

• Residents and employees of multi-family dwelling units are required to wear masks/face coverings inside hallways and other common areas. Building management shall post notice of this requirement at all entry doors to the building and common areas.

• Personal services (including but not limited to barber shops, hair and nail salons, and massage/body work) customers and workers shall wear mask/face coverings, except for skin or beard care that occurs on the face, where customers may temporarily remove the masks/face covering but must immediately put the mask/face covering back on for the remainder of the visit.

• Masking remains mandatory for all individuals on public and private transportation systems including ride-shares, taxis, transportation shelters, and the CCRTA flex bus.

• The only exception to the indoor requirement for a mask/face covering is for a single individual in a private office space.

The Order does not apply informal gatherings at private residences in which no compensation for use of the property is paid to the owner and it shall not apply to unorganized gatherings in unenclosed, outdoor spaces such as a park, athletic field, or parking lot.
 
The full text of the Order is available for review on the Town website.

Testing Sites

A State run Stop the Spread testing site has been established at the Cape Cod Melody Tent in Hyannis. This drive-thru site, which offers free PCR testing, will operate Mondays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Tuesdays from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. and Wednesdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Walk-ins are welcome or you can register for an appointment.
 
Barnstable County’s Department of Health and Environment maintains an updated list of testing sites available on Cape.

Town Manager's Monthly Reports

The Town Manager compiles monthly reports from all Town Departments for presentation to the Select Board. The reports include information and statistics relative to departmental activities for the month.

Monthly reports (current and dating back to 2011) are available on the Town website.

Waterways Bylaws Public Hearing

Next Select Board Meeting-Remote Participation Only

All are welcome to attend and participate in our open and public meetings. The agenda for each meeting is posted 48 business hours prior to the scheduled meeting time and can be accessed through the Select Board’s webpage.
 
Join the meeting on-line or participate by phone by dialing 1-508-945-4410 and entering Conference ID 134 208 476#. 

I. Minutes
January 4, 2022
 
II. Public Announcements and Agenda Item Requests
 
III. New Business

A. Corona virus (COVID-19) Update (Director of Natural Resources Dr. Robert Duncanson and Town Manager Jill Goldsmith)

B. Public Comments on Business Agenda

C. Public Hearings

a. Appeal of Mooring Non-Renewal; Stage Harbor Marina; John Marsh

b. Traffic Safety Committee Recommendations

i. Stop signs; Intersection of Wilfred Rd., Jeanette Dr., & Jeanette Rd.

ii. No Overnight Parking; West end of Water Street

iii. No Parking; North side of Barcliff Ave.

D. Business Agenda (Board Discussion Items)

a. Update of Old Comers Road Intersection Improvements

b. Consider Declaring 127 Old Harbor Road Surplus for Affordable/Attainable Housing

c. Consider Housing Initiatives from the 2018 Housing Production Plan; Recommendations from the Chatham Community Housing Partnership Committee

d. Consider Board of Health Recommendation to Hold All Municipal Meetings Remotely During Surge in COVID-19 Cases

 
IV. Executive Session - MGL Chapter 30A, §21 #3
To discuss strategy regarding pending and threatened litigation (Sciaba Construction Fish Pier Contract Claims) and the Chair declares that an Open Meeting would be detrimental to the litigating position of the public body.

The Mainsheet

The name of our e-newsletter was selected from submissions by our community.
In nautical terms a mainsheet is the line connected to the boom which allows a sailor to control the speed of a boat. We think that is fitting for an e-newsletter that can be used to quickly send out important information to our community or at a more leisurely rate for less pressing matters. It reflects Chatham’s maritime history, is reminiscent of the front page of a newspaper, and it is a fun play on Main Street, where you go to be part of all that is happening in Town!