Swim with Caution

It's expected to be a warm weekend and many of you may be headed to your favorite swimming beach. Please be aware that we are still short a few lifeguards and some beaches may not be guarded over the next few days. Have fun but be safe!

Blue background white water drop with white hands underneath

Water Conservation Measures

On June 21st the Select Board implemented water conservation measures taking into account restoration of Well #5 following installation of PFAS treatment.

The Board implemented the following water conservation measures effective immediately:

1. Irrigation System watering limited to Monday, Wednesday, & Friday between the hours of 3am -7am and 6pm -10pm.

2. Hand watering is allowed at any time with user discretion. Hand watering includes such tasks as watering flower & vegetable gardens, shrubbery; washing outdoor furniture; boat and vehicle washing. Users are asked to be considerate when hand watering, only do so when necessary, and use a hose with a nozzle that shuts off when not being squeezed by the person to avoid a running hose when it’s not attended.

3. Use by the Fire Department for training and equipment maintenance with discretion.

We remind users that established vegetation needs no more than 1” of water per week, either from precipitation or watering, or combination thereof. We also recommend that new plantings of shrubs, trees, or lawns be delayed if possible as these plantings require more water.

Good quality and enough fresh drinking water are vital to the health of our community. While the ban applies only to those on the public water supply, private well owners are asked to take these measures into consideration as we all draw from the same aquifer.

COVID-19 Test Kits Available

With allergy season in full swing be sure its pollen causing your symptoms and not COVID-19!

The Health Division has received a shipment of COVID-19 home test kits from the Department of Public Health. Over 1000 kits are available to property owners and employees of local businesses free of charge. The kits (one per person) are available for pick-up at the Natural Resources counter at the Town Office Annex, 261 George Ryder Road during regular business hours.

Black stick figures holding hands under a blue roofline above the letters HECH

HECH can H.E.L.P.

The Harwich Ecumenical Council for Housing's Housing Emergency Load Program (H.E.L.P.) is available to qualifying residents of Chatham, Orleans and Yarmouth who need emergency home repairs such as failed roofing, siding, heating, and more.

Town-specific applications are available online. Funds are limited and applications are on a first-come, first-served basis.

Blue lighthouse in front of alternating red and white stripes

Grand Marshal Announced

The Independence Day Parade Committee has announced that Tommy Doane will serve as Grand Marshal of this year's July 4th Parade, a fitting choice as the theme is "Chatham: Salty as Ever!"

Main street closes to traffic at 8:30 a.m. The Parade steps off from Shore Road at 9:30 a.m. and will follow its traditional route down Main Street turning north on Crowell Road and ending at Tip Cart Road. The Parade isn't over until you see the "That's All Folks" sign.

The entry order has been set and is available on the Parade's website.

NEW THIS YEAR - You'll be able to watch a LIVE stream of the Parade online on Channel 18's You Tube channel.

Chatham Harbor Run Sunday

The 41st Chatham Harbor Run starts at 11 a.m. this Sunday, June 26th. This is a popular event so please use caution if you are traveling on the route during race time.

This 10K (6.2 miles) run begins on Crowell Road at its intersection with Stepping Stones Road and follows Crowell south to Queen Anne Road. From Queen Anne the route follows Pond Street to Stage Harbor Road to Cedar Street. After a short distance on Battlefield Rd. the runners continue the loop on Champlain Rd., Bridge St., and up Shore Rd. to Barcliff Ave where they cut back over Tip Cart to Crowell where they finish at Monomoy Regional Middle School.

Proceeds from the event go to the Monomoy Regional School District scholarship fund.

Chatham Anglers Scoreboard with dates of upcoming home games

Reminders for Recreational Shellfishing

If you are hitting the flats this weekend remember you must:

have a valid 2022-2023 shellfish permit,
carry your shellfish permit on your person as well as another form of identification such as a driver’s license
display your permit when requested by a Shellfish Warden
display your catch when requested by a shellfish warden

Family permits cover: spouse, and dependent children under the age of 21 ONLY – no brothers, sister-in-laws, visiting friends, etc. Children under the age of 13 may shellfish with an any adult holding a valid family permit and adult is responsible for all acts of each child.

Shellfish must be measured BEFORE placing into bucket: minimum sizes are:
Quahogs – 1 inch thick
Steamers – 2 inches in shell length
Mussels – 2 inches in shell length

Oyster season and bay scallop season are CLOSED and Oyster Pond closes July 1st to any shellfish harvesting.

Check out this helpful video!

Next Select Board Meeting - June 28, 2022 @ 5:30 p.m.

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.

Attend in-person at the Town Office Annex, Large Meeting Room. Join the meeting on-line or participate by phone by dialing 1-508-945-4410 and entering Conference ID 203 386 491#.

I. Minutes
June 21, 2022

II. Public Announcements and Agenda Item Requests

III. New Business

A. Public Comments on Business Agenda

B. Business Agenda (Board Discussion Items)

1. Special One-Day Alcohol Permit; Monomoy Community Services, July 7 & 14, August 11 & 18, 5:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.

2. Shellfish Seasonal Closure – Oyster Pond (Shellfish Constable Renee Gagne)

3. Accept Donation; Oyster Seeds; Chatham Shellfish Company (Shellfish Constable Renee Gagne)

4. Consider Mondays on Main Event Requests (Jenn Allard)

5. Consider Chatham Upper Air Station Relocation to the Airport Property (Formerly Fishermen’s Storage Area) – Joint Request by Airport Commission Chair Huntley Harrison and Finance Committee Chair Stephen Daniel

6. Committee Appointments/Reappointments

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