One Article Special Town Meeting

The Select Board closed the warrant (draft available) for the September 16, 2024 Special Town Meeting this week after placing only one article seeking $4,000,000 for the purpose of paying costs of the design, renovation and construction of waterfront infrastructure and facilities for the continuation of improvements at 90 Bridge Street including new piers and floats for use by recreational and commercial boaters, along with the return and repurposing of the historic Stage Harbor Coast Guard Boathouse as a shellfish upweller.

Chatham's upweller system has been instrumental in the harvest of over 6.1 million pounds of quahogs, contributing more than $7.8 million in direct economic value over the past five years. The proposed facility is expected to increase the system's capacity, yielding an additional 1 million quahogs annually.

The Finance Committee will meet to review the article and vote its recommendation on Tuesday, August 27th at 1:30 p.m. in the large meeting room at the Town Office Annex, 261 George Ryder Road. Remote participation is available.

If you are interested in learning more about the operation of the existing upweller, please watch Chatham TV's Backstage tour with Shellfish Constable Renee Gagne and Shellfish Propagation Specialist Ben Sacco. You can also take trips out to the quahog grow out nets and the oyster cages with Ben to follow the journey of our shellfish from spat to harvest.

The Special Town Meeting will begin at 6 p.m. on September 16th in the gymnasium of Monomoy Regional Middle School, 425 Crowell Road.

If you are not already a registered voter in Chatham, the last day to register to vote in the Special Town Meeting is Friday, September 6th at 5 p.m. You can register in person at the Town Clerk's office, 549 Main Street or online through the MA Secretary of State's website.

Childcare is available at te Special Town Meeting for ages 3 & up by reservation. Drop-off begins at 5 p.m. in the Middle School Library. Please email Sharon Stark with your name, address, contact phone number, child's name, age and any medical issues no later than 12 noon on Friday, September 13th.

Transportation to the Special Town Meeting is available by appointment through the Center for Active Living. Call 508-945-5190 to reserve your seat no later than 12 noon on Monday, September 16th.

Free COVID-19 Test Kits 

The Health Division has received a new supply of COVID-19 test kits which are available to the public at no charge.

According to the Barnstable County Department of Health and Environment, cases of COVID-19 in the Commonwealth and our region remain at moderate levels. Nantucket and Duke's counties have had the highest case rates in the state for the last two weeks followed by Barnstable County.

With Labor Day holiday gatherings quickly approaching, please pick up a free test kit and self-test if you experience any symptoms.

North Beach Island Rules & Regulations

North Beach Island is made up of Town and privately owned parcels and areas that are part of the Cape Cod National Seashore. 

Use of the public areas of the Island is governed by the Noth Beach Island Rules as approved by the Park & Recreation Commission. These rules are in place to ensure that this remote beach may continue to be enjoyed in a manner that is respectful of private property owners, its pristine habitat, and fellow beach goers.

Key provisions of the Rules include:

• Consumption of alcoholic beverages is prohibited.
• Gatherings of 20 or more people require a permit from the Chief of Police, applied for at least 48 hours in advance.
• Open fires on the beach require a permit from the Fire Chief.
• From March 15 thru September 15 all dogs must be leashed at all times unless below the high tide mark.
• Violations of the rules are subject to fines of $50 to $300.

If you plan to visit North Beach Island, please familiarize yourself with the complete Rules before setting out for the Island.

Boosting Business Resiliency

Chatham's Energy & Climate Action Committee, The Chatham Climate Action Network and the Chamber of Commerce want to hear from business owners about their needs to be resilient and "climate smart" as the frequency of extreme weather events increases.

Take this quick survey so that the needs of the business community can be integrated into a Chatham Climate Action Plan to better prepare our whole community for clime impacts.

"The Year to Save the Earth"

Join composer, guitarist and singer Jim Scott for a multimedia presentation on Sunday September 1st at 1 p.m. at the Unitarian Universalist Meetinghouse, 819 Main Street.

"The Year to Save the Earth" is a mix of powerful songs and projected images that celebrate what is beautiful, amazing, and fragile and nuture a spirit of collective action for our planet.

A donation of $20 is suggested.

"Buried in Treasures" Workshop Offered

Are belongings taking over your home? Help is available! The Barnstable County Department of Health and Environment offers a free, multi-week “Buried in Treasures” Workshop for help with compulsive acquiring, saving and hoarding beginning on Monday, September 9^th from 1p.m. – 3 p.m. at the Brewster Senior Center, 1673 Main Street, Brewster.

The course includes:

• A free copy of the book Buried in Treasures.
• Support from others with similar struggles.
• Decluttering strategies for your home.
• Skills to achieve your long-term goals.

The time commitment for this workshop is 2 hours per week, for 16 weeks.

For more information or to sign-up call 774-330-3001.