American flag flying at half staff against a blue sky background

Half Staff Notice

Please be advised that Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey has ordered that the United States of America Flag and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts flag be lowered to half-staff at all state buildings beginning at sunrise Friday, February 23, 2024, until sunset on Friday, March 1, 2024, the date of interment, in honor of Staff Sergeant Carlos Dickey, United States Army, Tanker, 3rd Battalion, 67th Armored Regiment, formerly of Lowell, Massachusetts, who passed away on February 13, 2024.

Red white and blue buttons with Early Voting written on them in the middle

In-Person Early Voting Starts Tomorrow

In-Person Early Voting begins tomorrow, Saturday, February 24th from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Town Clerk's office at 549 Main Street and will continue next week, Monday February 26th through Friday, March 1st from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Tomorrow is also the last day to register to vote in the March 5th Presidential Primary if you are not already registered to vote in Massachusetts. You can register in-person at the Town Clerk's office until 5 p.m. or you can register to vote online.

The deadline to apply to vote by mail is Tuesday, February 27th at 5 p.m. The deadline to apply to vote in-person absentee is Monday, March 4th at 12 noon.

Polls will be open on Tuesday, March 5th at the Community Center from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Housing Development RFPs Released

Housing Requests for Proposals are now available for the development of affordable and attainable housing at Town-owned properties on Main Street in West Chatham and on Meetinghouse Road in South Chatham.

The Town and the Trustees of the Chatham Affordable Housing Trust acting through the Town Manager invite proposals from qualified parties interested in developing affordable and attainable housing at 1533 and 0 Main Street and affordable housing at 0 Meetinghouse Road.

Submissions for both are due no later than 2 p.m. on Thursday, April 25th.

Proposal presentations, if requested by the Affordable Housing Trustees, will be held on Wednesday, May 1st and/or Wednesday, May 15th at 5:30 p.m.

Developer selection is intended to be made on or before Wednesday, June 5th.

Building under construction with windows and doors installed

Project Updates

Eldredge Garage Visitors Center and Parking Lot

The Visitor's Center at the Eldredge Garage Parking Lot is really taking shape. Windows and doors are installed and the rough plumbing in the interior has begun with rough electrical to follow. The drainage system has been installed and inspected. Paving is expected the last week of March and continue into the first week of April.

Once completed the building will house restrooms, and the lot will feature charging stations for electric vehicles, bike racks, a bike fix-it station, and a walking path to the rear of the property.

Property-owners with valid beach and/or transfer station stickers will continue to be able to park for free in the lot.

George Ryder Road Multi-Use Path

Work on the George Ryder Road Bike Path Extension is currently focused on the retaining walls on the southern portion of the project. 

A detail officer is in place to facilitate one-way traffic in the construction zone.

Once completed, the multi-use path will improve safety for cyclists and pedestrians traveling from the Old Colony Rail Trail to the multi-use path along Route 28 in West Chatham.

Short Term Rental Online Registration required by March 1, 2024

Deadline Approaching for Registration of Short Term Rentals

The deadline to register a short term rental in Town for the 2024 season is Friday, March 1st.

The online registration is required by the Board of Health's Short Term Rental Regulations, adopted on April 24, 2023. The registration fee per property is $50. The local registration is in addition to required registration with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Department of Revenue.

While registrants are required to sign an affidavit attesting to their property meeting the requirements of the Regulations, please note inspections are not currently required prior to the issuance of a rental certificate.However, the Town reserves the right to inspect a property as needed to address any concerns identified in the registration process or complaints made by a tenant.

The online registration went live on on November 20, 2023.

Individuals with questions on the Short Term Rental Regulations should email Health Agent Judy Giorgio or call 508-945-5165.

A flooded street with a car driving through it

Reminder: Low Lying Roads Meeting

The Town of Chatham and the Cape Cod Commission (Commission) will host a second workshop on the Low-Lying Roads Project virtually next Thursday, February 29th at 6 p.m.

The workshop will provide an opportunity to learn about and discuss possible solutions to address flooding for the Town’s priority road segments identified as Morris Island Road and Ridgevale Road. Alternatives will be discussed that include traditional, green and hybrid options for each road segment and associated cost estimates. Participants will be able to ask questions about the presented solutions and about the project in general.

This workshop follows the first Chatham Low-Lying Roads Project public meeting conducted in May 2023 in which the Commission presented data on roads vulnerable to current and future flood events. The impact on the community from flooding of certain roads was also considered in the initial workshop. Chatham was then tasked with the identification of up to four potential road segments. From these, two segments were to be selected for further study and the identification of alternatives by the study team.

In July 2023, staff of the Natural Resources Department, Department of Public Works, with input from the Town’s Energy and Climate Action Committee, recommended the Town put forth Morris Island Road, Ridgevale Road, Fox Hill Road, and Seapine Road to the Commission for consideration based primarily on the inability to access areas of Town by another road should these streets become impassable. Upon further review and site visits by the study team, Morris Island Road and Ridgevale Road were selected as the Town’s two priority road segments for further evaluation.

To attend the virtual public meeting visit https://capecodcommission.org/llr/join Passcode: join or call 1 (929) 205-6099 & enter Meeting ID: 935 5189 6265

Ask the Town Manager

Q:How do I access the comprehensive Town sewer plan and schedule?

A: The schedule of work for sewer construction contracts that have been awarded can be found on the project's schedule page. Currently, Phase 1D-2A (Morton Road, Meetinghouse Road and adjacent neighborhoods), which was advanced to achieve efficiencies with the connection of East Harwich, is scheduled to be completed in 2024. Phase 1C-5 (Pond View, Kelly Lane, Woodcarver Knoll neighborhoods, Oyster Pond Condos, Ellis/Smith Streets & Independence Lane) and Phase 1E-2 (lower end of Stage Harbor Road, Champlain Road and adjacent neighborhoods off Stage Harbor Road south of Inlet Road) are scheduled for construction 2024-2026.

Implementation (design, bid, construction) of the next Phase(s) is under review at this time and once determined will be posted to the project page. A map of the long-range projections for Phase 1 and Phase 2 streets has been posted to the project page.

Recovery Coach Kelly Connelly seated at a conference table

Recovery Coach is Here to Help

If you or someone you know is seeking recovery from substance use/alcohol use disorders and would benefit from one-to-one peer-based supportive assistance, please reach out to Outer Cape Health’s Recovery Coach Kelly Connolly.

Kelly holds office hours at the Chatham Police Station, 249 George Ryder Road, on Wednesdays from 12 noon to 4 p.m. and is available by phone at 774-209-3230.

Kelly is available to make referrals and connections to community resources, problem solve barriers to care, assist in navigating available services, and provide action-oriented coaching to set and achieve goals for sustained recovery.

The Recovery Coach program accepts all participants regardless of insurance status.

Chatham Police Department is recruiting Community Service Officers for the summer

Chatham Shellfish Division pickup truck and trailer at Oyster Pond beach

Fun Facts! Shellfish Division

In 2023 Shellfish Propagation staff dug out and distributed over 500 bushels of seed quahogs throughout the waters of Stage Harbor, Mill Creek, Bucks Creek, and Taylors Pond and distributed approximately 130,000 adult oysters.

They planted approximately 1.87 million seed quahogs under nets in Taylor’s Pond, Buck’s Creek and Oyster River; 375,000 quahogs sunk in cages for overwintering in Oyster Pond; 153,000 oysters sunk in cages for overwintering in Oyster Pond; and 125 bags of remote set oysters (oyster spat on crushed shells) planted in Mill Creek.

Blue Lighthouse in front of red stripes with yellow stars

Last Call for Parade Theme Submissions

The Chatham Independence Day Parade Committee is accepting suggestions for the theme of the 2024 parade until next Thursday, February 29th.

Theme suggestions may be submitted online or via email to chathamparade@gmail.com. Remember to include your complete name and contact information and why you think your idea will make a great theme. The selected submission will be announced in March.

Bearded man holding a bird with wings outstretched

Birds in Winter

Chatham Conservation Foundation's Winter Webinar series continues on Saturday, March 2nd at 10 a.m. with Birds in Winter: How Birds Survive the Harshest Season by ornithologist James Junda.

The nonbreeding season is the longest period in most birds' annual cycle yet the least studied. Learn how birds' behaviors change and how the circumstances of the nonbreeding season impact the upcoming migration and breeding seasons.

Participation in the webinar is free but registration is required.

Cape & Islands Suicide Prevention Coalition

Suicide Prevention Summit

Creating Hope Through Action

Cape & Islands Suicide Prevention Coalition will hold a Suicide Prevention Summit on Wednesday, March 6th from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Cape Cod Community College, 2240 Iyannough Road, Barnstable.

The Summit presents a unique opportunity to bring the community together to create hope through action by sharing best practices and innovations in suicide prevention. This Summit will feature advocates and professionals and those with lived experience to help foster community connections and partnerships to raise awareness, promote education, and increase action to reduce suicides.

Space is limited. Registration fee is $35 and is available online. If you have questions about the event please email capeandislandspc@gmail.com.

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!

Subscribe to The Mainsheet

Subscribe today to have the latest issue of The Mainsheet delivered directly to your inbox each week! Sign-up through Notify Me! by entering your email address and clicking on the envelope icon next to the "Government" subscription list.

Town of Chatham website www.chatham-ma.gov