Holiday Closures

All Town offices are closed on Thursday and Friday November 24th and 25th for the Thanksgiving holiday. The Transfer Station is closed on Thursday but open regular hours on Friday.

Fire/Rescue Promotions

Join Town officials, staff, and the members of the Fire/Rescue Department on Wednesday, November 30th at 12 noon to celebrate internal promotions in the Department's ranks.

Justin Tavano will be sworn in as our new Fire Chief and Ryan Clarke will be step into the role as Deputy Fire Chief. Ryan Holmes is being promoted to Captain from Lieutenant and Tim Hunter from Firefighter to Lieutenant.

Prior to the ceremony, beginning at 10 a.m., the Department will host a "Last Coffee" with retiring Fire Chief Dave DePasquale on his final day after serving our community for 33 years. Please stop by to wish him well in his future pursuits.

Yellow diamond shaped sign with Private Road in black lettering

Private Roads "Do Not Plow" List

If you live on a private road that does not meet minimum standards for surface, drainage, signage and/or clearance your road will not be plowed by the Town this winter.

Each year the Department of Public Works inspects private roads for the following:

The travel lane for any private road shall be no less than (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 (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 private roads shall have no defects (potholes or ruts) exceeding two (2) inches in depth.
All private ways shall have a visible street sign and be open to the public.

If you live on a private road, please check the list of failed roads posted on the DPW webpage. If your road is listed there is still time to address the deficiencies and contact the Highway Division for a re-inspection before the first flakes fly!

And Speaking of Plowing....

The Town is hiring Snow Plow contractors for this winter season. Please call the Department of Public Works at 508-945-5155 for more information.

Truck with plow in the snow with Chatham Town seal above Snow Plow Contractors Wanted

Aerial view of shoaling along the Chatham shoreline

Erosion, Nourishment & Shoaling

The Department of Coastal Resources will host a public presentation by Sustainable Coastal Solutions (SCS) of the results of two studies on Nantucket Sound Erosion, Nourishment and Shoaling on Thursday, December 8th at 6:30 p.m. at the Town Office Annex, 261 George Ryder Road.

The first study to assess whether structural or other shore protection alternatives to reduce sand loss at Cocle Cove, Ridgevale and Harding's Beaches would be feasible, cost effective and/or appropriate was initiated in 2020 and completed this spring.

The second study focused on developing alternatives to address heightened shoaling at the Stage Harbor entrance channel and associated erosion at Crescent Beach. Ongoing physical changes to South Beach, South Inlet and the "Fools Cut" are causing increased tidal flow in the area resulting in the need for repeated maintenance dredging over the past few years. SCS has identified a potentially viable concept, installing a series of temporary "flow training structures" along with beach nourishment, to mitigate the shoaling and erosion problems.

The presentations will be broadcast live on Channel 18 and archived on the Town website.

South Jog Bulkhead Replacement Begins Dec. 1st

Work will begin on the South Jog Bulkhead Replacement Project at the Municipal Fish Pier, 54 Barcliff Ave. Ext., on December 1st.

In addition to replacing the South Jog Bulkhead, the project includes rebuilding the stairway at the Wharfingers Office, improving pedestrian access in the Lower Parking Lot to the South Jog public float, and utility upgrades for resilience.

The southern half of the Lower Parking Lot will be closed off in the afternoon of December 1st to allow for demolition, construction, and contractor staging. Water access to the South Jog will be closed off by a turbidity boom during construction.

The bulkhead work is expected to be completed by the end of April with other site work completed by June.

silhouette of a house outlined in black with a For Sale sign on a post

Continued Pursuit of Properties

The Town and the Affordable Housing Trust are once again seeking proposals for the purchase of property suitable for construction, or an existing building suitable for renovation, for use as a mix of affordable and attainable housing.

The Town will consider all parcel sizes, however, the parcel must be located in Town; have a good, clear record and marketable title; be free of liens and encumbrances; and must have an insurable title.

The full Request for Proposals is available on the Town's website. Deadline for submissions is December 8, 2022 at 2 p.m.

Stuff a Cruiser December 3rd at Ocean State Job Lot

Next Select Board Meeting - Nov. 29, 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. Public Announcements and Agenda Item Requests

II. Public Comments on Business Agenda

III. Business Agenda (Board Discussion Items)

A. Seasonal Shellfish Area Openings; Mill Creek, Taylor’s Pond, Champlain Creek, Oyster Pond, Muddy Creek, Buck’s Creek [Renee Gagne)

B. Consider Request for Special One Day Wine & Malt Beverages Only Permit; Pine Acres Realty, 504 Main Street, December 9, 2022, 6 p.m. – 9 p.m.

C. Consider Request for Outdoor Sale of Goods/Sales on Town Property; Chatham Scouts, December 9, 2022, 5 p.m. – 9 p.m., Kate Gould Park’s Main Street entrance

D. Select Board Goals & Objectives CAL2023/FY2024 Work Session– Review or Vote

VI. Executive Session – MGL Ch 30A, §21 #2
To conduct collective bargaining sessions or contract negotiations with nonunion personnel (Town Manager) would with NO return to open session.

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