COVID-19 Update

There have been 733 confirmed total cases of COVID-19 reported in Town since March 2020. There have been 15 cases reported through February 15, 2022, which is significantly lower than the number of cases reported halfway through January 2022. There were 42 cases reported in all of February 2021. The Town's percent positivity continues to trend down, with similar trends on Cape and State-wide. The Town's average daily incident rate also continues to decline.

Mask Mandate Rescinded

The Board of Health has rescinded its order requiring masks be worn in Town public meetings or gatherings of two or more people in Town facilities and the Community Center Fitness Center and Gym based on declining COVID-19 case numbers. While there are no longer any mask mandates in Chatham, the Board of Health still advises those who are fully vaccinated to wear a mask if they are immuno-compromised, have pre-existing health conditions, or have a family member that has any of these conditions. Unvaccinated individuals should continue to wear a mask.

Test Kit Distribution

On Wednesday, February 16th, 511 COVID-19 At-Home Antigen Self-Test kits were handed out to residents and non-resident tax payers during a drive-thru distribution at the Town Office Annex. Beginning Tuesday, February 22, 2022, the Health Division will make additional kits available for those who were not able to participate in the drive-thru distribution.

Kits will be available at the Town Annex, Health Division counter, 261 George Ryder Road, Monday to Thursday, 9am to 3pm, while supplies last. If you have any symptoms of COVID-19 or have been in close contact with someone testing positive for COVID-19 please do not come into the building, call ahead (508-945-5165) to make arrangements.

The test kits (2 tests per kit) will be available ONLY to Chatham residents or non-resident taxpayers. Proof of residency will be required in the form of driver’s license showing Chatham address, real estate tax bill, or long-term lease (> 6 months) at a Chatham address.

Five men in blaze orange Coast Guard jackets onboard a motor lifeboat

Courtesy of the Orleans Historical Society.

70th Anniversary Honored

On the night of February 18, 1952 the greatest small boat rescue in Coast Guard history took place when a crew of four from Coast Guard Station Chatham set out in the CG36500 motor lifeboat and saved 32 men from the SS Pendleton after it broke in half in a storm.

Crew members Bernie Webber, Andrew Fitzgerald, Richard Livesey, and Ervin Maske were all awarded the Gold Lifesaving Medal for their heroism.

On February 1, 2022 Governor Baker issued a proclamation naming February 18, 2022 to be "Finest Hours Rescue Day" in the Commonwealth in recognition of the 70th anniversary of the the historic rescue. Pictured above is the crew on board the restored CG36500 on the 50th anniversary of the rescue.

Passings of Note

Our community lost two members this week who each played a significant role in Town governance.

Dan Meservey, Sr. served as Selectman from 1988-1991. He also served as a member of the Zoning Study Committee (1985-1990), Barnstable County Advisory (1989-1991), and Personnel Advisory Committee (2000-2003). He remained engaged in Town matters and was a leader in our business community throughout his life.

Ramona McDonald served as the Administrative Assistant to the Board of Selectmen and Town Manager and Licensing Agent for the Board of Selectmen from 1987 until her retirement in 2011. She was also married to former Building Commissioner Kevin McDonald.

Our deepest condolences to their family and friends at this difficult time.

Silver pick-up truck with red plow plowing snow on a street

Private Road Plowing Policy

The Department of Public Works inspects all Private Roads each September and a reinspection the first week of December. Roads that have deficiencies are then published in the local papers and posted on the Town’s Website.

The following are the minimum standards to prevent damage to Town equipment during snow and ice removal. If private roads do not meet these requirements plowing and sanding services will not be provided.

The travel lane of any private road shall be no less than twelve (12) feet wide
Roadside clearance of any obstacles including vegetation shall be no less than two (2) feet either side
Height clearance shall be no less than twelve (12) feet from the road surface
There must be ample room for emergency vehicles to turn around if the road is a dead end
Paved or unpaved roads shall have no defects (pot holes or ruts) exceeding two (2) inches in depth
All private ways shall have a visible street sign and be open to the public (signs stating “Residents Only” or in kind will make a road fail and it will be placed on the Do Not Plow List)

If you live on a Private Road and have repaired any deficiencies noted on the list you must call the Department of Public Works to have the road re-inspected so that your road can be removed from the Do Not Plow List. Please note that this should NOT wait until the day before a storm is predicted to arrive, as the department will be preparing for the storm and may not have time to come out to do the inspection at that time, which could mean your road will not be treated.

Red lighthouse in circle in front of sky sand water with Monomoy Regional School District around it

Report Cards on Schools Issued

The Commonwealth has issued its annual report cards on every public school and school district in Massachusetts. These report cards are provided to show families how their school or district is performing in different areas and represent a new way of looking at school performance, by providing information on student achievement, teacher qualifications, student learning opportunities, and more.

The Monomoy Regional School District (MRSD) continues to maintain graduation rates and college attendance rates well above the state average.

If you have questions about MRSD’s report card or would like to become involved in school improvement activities, please contact Marc Smith, Director of Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment (msmith@monomoy.edu).

A report card is available for MRSD and for each specific school; Chatham Elementary, Harwich Elementary, Monomoy Regional Middle School, and Monomoy Regional High School.

Next Select Board Meeting - Virtual 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
Interview with Attorney David Mackey, Anderson & Kreiger, LLP
February 15, 2022

II. Public Announcements and Agenda Item Requests

III. New Business

A. Eversource Update on Blizzard-Kenan; Ronit Goldstein/Eversource, Community Relations and Economic Development [Public comments will be accepted on this item].

B. Public Comments on Business Agenda

C. Business Agenda (Board Discussion Items)

a. FY2023 Budget Review/2022 Annual Town Meeting Articles Review

i. Finance Committee FY2023 Preliminary Report (Florence Seldin, Vice Chair, Finance Committee)

ii. Town Department FY2023 Budget Presentation – General Government, Chamber of Commerce, Human Services (including Libraries)

iii. 2022 Annual Town Meeting Articles Review:

1. Charter Revisions (John Kaar, Chair, Charter Review Committee)

2. Fix Salaries - Elected Officials

3. Wood Waste Reclamation Facility Enterprise Fund

4. OPEB Trust Fund Appropriation (Transfer from Overlay Surplus)

5. General Bylaw Amendment – Polystyrene and Expanded Polystyrene Foam – Floats [Styrofoam floats/debris from deterioration (S. Nickerson, 11/7/19 agenda request]

6. Refile Home Rule Petition for Prevailing Wages Exemption

7. Citizen Petition – Land Acquisition; 776 Main Street and 70 Depot Road- Purchase Gift or Take by Eminent Domain (Peter Farber, Petitioner)

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!

Town of Chatham website www.chatham-ma.gov