Holiday ClosuresTown Offices, the Community Center, and the Transfer Station are closed on Monday, January 1st for New Year's Day. The Transfer Station is open regular hours on Sunday, December 31st. The Community Center is open on Sunday, December 31st for First Night activities only. |
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Thank you!As we approach our 33rd First Night, I want to take a moment to extend my heartfelt appreciation to the organizers, and dedicated volunteers who have poured their hearts and efforts into making this event possible. To the individuals behind the scenes, who have spent countless hours planning and coordinating the festivities, you are the cornerstone of this annual event. Your commitment to every detail iis truly commendable and sets the stage for an unforgettable celebration. A special note of gratitude to the tireless volunteers and our Town Staff who will be working diligently on New Year's Eve to ensure the safety, enjoyment, and seamless execution of the event. As we eagerly welcome 2024, let's celebrate the spirit of togetherness and the efforts of everyone involved in making First Night a cherished tradition. I also want to thank the community members who dedicated time, effort, and expertise in serving on Town Boards, Commissions, and Committees throughout 2023. Through your ideas and thoughtful discussions, you have played a vital role in both maintaining our rich historical context and shaping our Town's present and future. The hours you've devoted to your respective roles have not gone unnoticed. Your contributions have made a significant impact, and our town is better because of your service. If you are interested in serving on a Town Board, Commission, or Committee, please review our list of vacancies or call the my office at (508) 945-5105. Jill R. Goldsmith, Town Manager |
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Officer Whittle Retires After 36 YearsThe Police Department hosted a Last Coffee for Officer John Whittle who retired from the force on Friday, December 29th after 35 years of service to the community. The event was well attended by members of the Select Board, current and former members of the Town's Police and Fire Departments, representatives from other agencies, Officer Whittle's family and friends, Town staff, and members of the community. Officer Whittle was presented with a certificate of service from Town Manager Jill Goldsmith, a commemorative coin, Chatham Police badges and patches spanning his career, and the PD's traditional retirement gift of a rocking chair. While Officer Whittle will no longer be on regular patrol, he's not going too far and will continue to serve our community as a Reserve Officer. Congratulations John on your well deserved retirement!
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Getting Around Downtown on First NightThe countdown to First Night is on! A little advanced planning will pay off and help keep your day enjoyable and hassle free. If you intend to catch numerous performances this year plan to use the shuttle buses to travel quickly and safely between venues. Busses will operate between 1 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. and run from the Rotary to the Middle School via Old Harbor Road, Depot Road, Crowell Road and return via Crowell Road and Queen Anne Road to the Rotary. Drivers will stop at various venues as requested. If you are driving into the downtown area, plan your trip around the temporary road closures and traffic restrictions necessitated by some First Night activities. The Town photograph will be taken at 12 noon on the front lawn of the Coast Guard Station. Northbound traffic from Bridge Street and Morris Island Road will be detoured onto Silverleaf Avenue if the Lighthouse Overlook parking lot becomes too congested. The Carnival Caper Road Race steps off at 3 p.m. and begins and ends in front of the Chatham Squire. Runners will follow the race route east on Main Street, right onto Main Street, left on Water Street, right on Silverleaf Avenue, left onto lower Main Street passing the Lighthouse, and left onto Main Street back to the Squire. Traffic will held along the route as needed. The Noise Parade begins at 6 p.m. at the intersection of Main Street and Cross Street. Participants will march west on Main Street, through the Rotary to the Community Center and Veterans Field for the fireworks. Main Street will be closed to vehicle traffic from approximately 6 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. or until all participants have cleared the roadway. New this year, Depot Road from Old Harbor Road to Post Office Road will be closed to vehicle traffic beginning at 5 p.m. Hitching Post Road from Depot Road to Old Academy Road will be closed to vehicle traffic except for vehicles utilizing the Elementary School parking lot. The area directly in front of the Fire Department will be closed to the public including pedestrians and those viewing the fireworks for public safety reasons. Have a fun and safe First Night, Chatham!
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Railroad Museum Open SundayThe Railroad Museum, 153 Depot Road, will be open 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday, December 31st for First Night and two special displays will be featured! Museum volunteers will be operating an "O" gauge train and a special train themed exhibit of all First Night Chatham buttons, from the earliest to the present, will be on display. Located in the restored 1887 railroad depot that served Chatham for nearly fifty years, the Railroad Museum’s permanent exhibits will also be available and the 1910 wood sided red caboose, located behind the Museum, will also be open for “passengers.” You don't need a First Night button for admission and there is no admission fee but donations are always welcomed!
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 A Residential Grinder Pump |
Ask the Town ManagerQ: When will the Town Manager and Select Board be discussing the cost of installing grinder pumps that some properties will require when hooking up to Town sewer and will the Town will be contributing financially to these installations as other towns have done? A: Since December 2022, the Water & Sewer Advisory Committee (W&SAC) has been discussing the challenges faced by owners who, due to the slope of their properties, will be required to install grinder pumps when connecting to Town sewer rather than the less expensive gravity-fed system. The W&SAC have discussed the potential financial benefit of the Town buying grinder pumps in bulk from the manufacturer and a Request for Proposals (RFP) to procure such has been drafted. The W&SAC believes that once submissions to the RFP are received, there will be a clearer picture of the actual costs of grinder pumps and the fiscal impact to property owners and potentially the Town, if the Select Board acting as Water & Sewer Commissioners recommend that the Town (tax payers) pay for the first grinder pump required on a property as some other communities have done. Additional questions to be answered include the responsibility for maintenance and eventual replacement of the grinder pumps on private property. The Water & Sewer Advisory Committee meets again on this topic on Monday, January 8, 2024 at 1 p.m. in the small meeting room at the Annex, 261 George Ryder Road and available on-demand through the Chatham TV archive following the meeting. It is anticipated that recommendations on the release of the RFP for procurement of grinder pumps and a draft policy on the requirements for grinder pumps will come before the Board on January 16, 2024. If you have a question for the Town Manager, please email it to Shanna Nealy and watch this space for the answer.
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Last Chance to Take the Communications SurveyPlease take a few minutes to complete the Community Communications Survey this weekend before it closes at 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, December 31st. Whether you are a full-time resident, second home owner, work in Town, or love to visit Chatham, we want to hear from you on how we can best keep you up to date and informed about all things Chatham. Let us know what information you find most useful and we will do our best to bring you more of it in 2024. |
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Eldredge Garage Visitor Center UpdateWork is progressing at the Eldredge Garage Visitor Center and Parking Lot.
The foundation of the Visitor Center is in place. Components of the building itself are being constructed off-site and will be installed in January. Underslab plumbing and electrical will take place in the next 2 weeks before the slab is placed. Site drainage will be installed during the same timeframe. The project is on schedule for the parking lot to be ready for use and the Visitor Center approved for occupancy by Memorial Day.
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Resolve to Get Involved in 2024Are you looking for ways to stay more active or meet new people in 2024? Look no further, because the Center for Active Living (CFAL) is stepping up with a slew of new programs and timeless favorites in the New Year. You can keep up on all that is offered at the CFAL by following them on Facebook and/or Instagram, checking out the monthly newsletter The Flash online, or watch the video version which touches on the upcoming month's highlights and features interesting discussions and insights from familiar faces around Town. If you haven't taken a look at the programs and services offered through the CFAL lately, you haven't had a glimpse of all that the CFAL has to offer!
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Save the Date!The next Community Engagement Session on housing developments on Town-owned properties at 1533 Main Street and Meetinghouse Road will be held on Wednesday, January 17th at 6 p.m. in the Large Meeting Room at the Town Office Annex, 261 George Ryder Road. Remote participation will be available! |
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Preservation Awards Applications OpenApplications for the Chatham Preservation Awards are now available. The Chatham Preservation Awards are jointly sponsored by the Town’s Historical Commission, Historic Business District Commission, and the Chatham Historical Society. These annual awards are presented to a variety of local projects which may include private residences, commercial properties, publicly-owned buildings, not-for-profit institutions, and historic landscapes. Properties must be at least 75 years old to be eligible for an award and primary emphasis is given to exterior preservation, rehabilitation, or restoration. Also recognized are sensitive additions and modernization; preservation of historic streetscapes; landscape preservation; and archaeology. The final selection of award-winning projects is made by a committee formed of representatives from the three sponsoring organizations. A project can be nominated either by the property owner or by another individual or group, such as a neighborhood organization, building contractor, architect, or Town body. Nominations from the general public are strongly encouraged. The deadline for applications is January 26, 2024, and the applications are to be mailed or delivered to The Chatham Historical Commission, Town Hall Annex – 261 George Ryder Road, Chatham, MA 02633. For questions, please reach out to Christina Bassett via email if you have questions. Chatham Preservation Awards will be presented at a ceremony to be held in at the Atwood House Museum, 347 Stage Harbor Road, on Saturday, May 28, 2024 at 5 p.m.
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That's a Wrap on the HolidaysRecycling TipsThe Cape Cod Cooperative Extension is taking the guesswork out of holiday recycling. The Extension has put together a guide to help you decide what items should be recycled and what should be trashed. Residents can bring old or non-working holiday lights to the Transfer Station and deposit them in the dedicated collection bin until the end of January . The lights will be collected by the Cooperative Extension and Americorps, stripped down, and as much material as possible will be recycled. Lights attached to trees, stars, or other lighted items are not accepted. Christmas Tree DisposalThere are just a few days left to sign up to have Chaham Boy Scout Troop 71 pick-up and dispose of your Christmas tree. Residents of Chatham and Harwich can sign up by January 2nd either online, via email or by calling 508-945-0764 and then leave their undecorated tree curbside by 8 a.m. on Saturday, January 6th. Donations - suggested $20 - to benefit the Chatham Angel Fund & Family Pantry of Cape Cod may be left in an envelope on your front door if you won't be home. Checks should be made payable to Boy Scout Troop 71. Thank you for supporting this scouting activity! |
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Next Select Board Meeting - January 9, 2024 @ 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#. |
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The MainsheetThe 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! |
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