A number of community members have inquired about the condition of a woman who experienced a medical emergency during the Annual Town Meeting. The event was immediately recognized by the community members sitting nearby. A nurse, retired Fire Chief Depasquale, Chief Tavano, FD detail person and PD detail officers quickly responded and stabilized the patient and prepared her for transport upon arrival of the ambulance. The event highlighted excellent team dynamics between the PD and FD personnel, great community member response by quickly and assertively calling out for help, and appropriate preparedness by having additional public safety staff on hand due to the expected turnout. The patient’s condition was improving by the time she was loaded into the ambulance and she was transported to the hospital in stable condition. Thank you to all for your concern!

Sewer Construction Update

Work for the week of May 15^th – May 19^th:

Morton, Meetinghouse, and Mill Hill Roads

Sewer lateral work on Morton Road will commence. Police detail(s) will be in place to assist motorists.

Sewer testing is planned for Meetinghouse Road on Monday, May 15th and Mill Hill Road on Tuesday, May 16th. Tentative testing for Meetinghouse Road expected to continue Wednesday, May 17th through Friday, May 19th. Police details will be in place in the vicinity of the testing to assist motorists.

On Thursday, May 18th work is planned for fine grading in preparation of paving on Mill Hill Road. Delays are expected. A binder course of pavement is planned to be installed on Mill Hill Road on Friday, May 19th. Traffic will be limited to one lane alternating traffic. 

Site work at Pump Station #3 (Meetinghouse Road) will continue.

Crowell Road

The 90-day settlement period will conclude in mid-June when final top course paving will take place.

Queen Anne Road Pump Station 

Sewer work is expected near the vicinity of the pump station site (40 Queen Anne Road; south side of Queen Anne Road and Oyster Pond Furlong intersection). Multiple detours are expected to be in place Monday through Friday. Signage and police details will be in place to assist motorists:

• Traffic from Absegami Run and Oyster Pond Furlong will be route through Chatham Village Market/CVS back entrance.
• Queen Anne Road will be closed at the intersection of Queen Anne Road, Main Street, and Depot Road. Traffic will be routed to Main Street to the rotary.
• Queen Anne Road will be closed starting at the intersection of Oyster Pond Lane, Queen Anne Road, and Adams Lane. Traffic will be routed up Adams Lane to Main Street.

May is Bay State Bike Month

In celebration of Bay State Bike Month, and because we all need reminders now and then, please keep the following in mind when riding the Old Colony Rail Trail:

• No motorized vehicles are allowed on the trail, except electronic assist/e-bikes.
• No alcoholic beverages are allowed on the trail.
• Dogs must be leashed; owners must pick-up after their pets.
• Non-cycling users must yield to cyclists and keep to the right.
• Trail is closed 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.
• Please respect private property adjacent to the trail.

All cyclists should:

• Wear protective head gear (required by law for all riders 16 and under).
• Keep to the right, ride single file.
• Come to a full stop at all Stop signs. The Stop signs face OCRT riders, not crossing traffic.
• Dismount and walk you bike across all crosswalks. Vehicles are required to stop for pedestrians in crosswalks; cyclists are not pedestrians until they dismount.
• When passing pedestrians or other cyclists, do so on the left and alert those you are passing.
• Move off the trail when stopped.
• Obey all traffic laws when utilizing on-road routes of sections of the OCRT.

Chatham is fortunate to share the Old Colony Rail Trail with Harwich and has several on-road bicycle routes in Town. For trail guides, route maps and some off-road suggestions visit our Bikeways Committee’s webpage.

Vulnerable Road Users Laws

Did you know new vulnerable road users laws went into effect in the Commonwealth on April 1st? No fooling!

Massachusetts now defines "vulnerable user" on our roads to include people walking and biking; roadside workers; people using wheelchairs; motorized bicycles, scooters, skateboards, roller skates, and other devices; horse riders and horse drawn carriages; and farm equipment.

Drivers need to provide a "safe passing distance" of at least 4 feet when passing vulnerable road users. Motorists are explicitly allowed to cross a double-yellow line in order to pass when it is safe to do so and in adherence with speed limits. MassDOT will is required to install signage to this effect across the Commonwealth.

Another new requirement under the laws is for the use of rear red lights at night by cyclists to ensure they are visible. Cyclists are now required to use a white front light, red rear light, and rear reflector when riding at night. Police officers cannot use a light violation as a reason to stop a cyclist and the lack of lights cannot be used as evidence of negligence in a civil action.

Read the full text of the law on the MA Legislature's website.

Next Select Board Meeting - May 16, 2023 @ 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

May 9, 2023

May 12, 2023

II. Public Announcements and Agenda Item Requests

Chair announcement of Board Reorganization and Annual Town Election Results

III. Public Hearings

A. Change of Manager; Eastward Ho! Country Club, Inc.

IV. Utility Poles Inventory Status – Repair/Replace and Improvements to Electrical Grid Service to Chatham- Attendance by Eversource and Verizon Leadership Requested

V. Public Comments on Business Agenda

VI. Business Agenda (Board Discussion Items)

A. One Day Special Alcohol Permits; One Day Entertainment Permits; Monomoy Community Services; Back to Summer Hangar Party, July 1, 2023; Taste of Chatham, July 31, 2023

B. License to Use Town Property – Wicked Wavy Swim School

C. Waterfront Infrastructure Bond Projects Review/Prioritization (JD, SD 10/25/2022)

D. Select Board Committee Liaison Assignments

E. Committee Reappointment Interview Procedure – Review