Tax Rate Reduced for FY2025

The FY2025 tax rate has been certified by the MA Department of Revenue (DOR) at $3.47. This is a 0.10 cent decrease to the current (FY2024) tax rate of $3.57.

Voters seated in the gymnasium at the Sept. 16 2024 Special Town Meeting

Special Town Meeting Results

Thank you to all the voters (574!) that turned out for the Special Town Meeting (STM) on Monday night. In just under one hour, Article 1, the sole article under consideration, to fund costs of design, renovation, and construction of improvements to 90 Bridge Street including new piers and floats and the re-use of the historic Coast Guard Boathouse for a shellfish upweller passed by a vote of 462 to 99.

With the passage of this Article, the Department of Natural Resources may now move forward and issue a Request for Proposals (RFP) with the goal of getting the project underway before the end of the calendar year. The Town will also apply for funding to offset the approved $4 Million appropriation in the next Seaport Economic Council grant cycle.

If you were unable to attend the STM, you can view the recording of the meeting on Chatham TV's YouTube channel.

Man in USFWS life vest stands in a boat looking at dead trees on the shore

Update: Tree Removal at Wildlife Refuge

US Fish and Wildlife Service officials with assistance from Town staff began the process of clearing dead trees off the flats adjacent to the former Monomoy National Wildlife Refuge Headquarters property on Tuesday. Additional work to remove dead trees on the shoreline continued on Wednesday.

Work to mark and remove trees that have become hazards to navigation within the Town waterways will continue. As erosion in this area is ongoing, evaluations for the need for additional work will be as well.

Police officer in blue uniform wearing a body worn camera

Police Body Worn and Cruiser Mounted Cameras

In 2020, the Massachusetts legislature created the Law Enforcement Body Camera Task Force in the Act Relative to Justice, Equity, and Accountability in Law Enforcement in the Commonwealth, otherwise known as the police reform law, for the purpose of drafting recommended regulations for the procurement and use of body-worn cameras by law enforcement officers, and minimum requirements for the storage and transfer of audio and video recordings collected by body-worn cameras.

In August 2024, Chatham Police Department implemented Motorola Body Worn Camera (BWC) and Cruiser Mounted Camera (CMC) systems. The Department recognizes the value of BWCs and CMSs for their ability to improve transparency and accountability, to improve the documentation and collection of evidence, improve interactions between officer and the public, and for training purposes.

Every Chatham Police Officer is now assigned their own V700BWC, and All of CPD’s marked cruisers are equipped with an M500 system, which includes a forward-facing camera, and an internal camera that records the cruiser’s back seat area.

For more information, read the “Frequently asked Questions” on the Department’s web page.

Family Dodgeball Night at the Community Center Sept 27 from 5-7 p.m.

Welcome to Team Chatham

Team Chatham is pleased to welcome several new members on board this month!

Police Department

Officer Jordyn Gagliardi graduated from the Fitchburg State University (4+1) Police Program on September 13th. This program combines the pursuit of a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice with enrollment in the 7th Recruit Officer Training Academy at Fitchburg State University. In addition to graduating from the program, Officer Gagliardi earned the Academy's Award for the highest physical fitness scores.

During her time in this program, Officer Gagliardi was inducted into the Alpha Sigma Criminal Justice Honor Society and was the Treasurer of the Criminal Justice Club. She also completed internships at the Ayer and Lunenburg Police Departments.

Officer Gagliardi now enters our Field Training Program designed to acclimate her to our department and our community.

Officer Richard Spaulding will report to the CPD for his first shift on Monday, September 30th.

Mr. Spaulding holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice from Westfield State University and graduated from the Western Massachusetts 64^th Recruit Officer’s Police Academy in 2022, where he was awarded the “Staff Instructor’s Award” on recognition from his academy’s staff and is Peace Officer’s Standards and Training (POST) certified. Mr. Spaulding is transferring to Chatham Police from the West Springfield Police Department where he has been a Police Officer since 2022. Prior to that, Mr. Spaulding was a Special State Police Officer for Springfield College Police and Western New England University Police.

Community Services

Josephine Fennell has been appointed as Chatham’s first Adult Supportive Day Program Director and will begin her employment at the Center for Active Living on Monday, September 23^rd. Josephine (“Jo”) will manage the CFAL’s Adult Supportive Day Program, Ryder’s Cove Respite. Ms. Fennell has been with Cape Abilities since 2009 and was hired as the Manager of the Head Injury Program. She was promoted to the role of Director/Program Coordinator of the Day Habilitation Program and Community Based Day Supports in 2011.

Prior to her time at Cape Abilities, Josephine has held roles as Case Manager, Program Counselor, Residential Counselor and Special Education Teacher for Community Connections and Latham Centers. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from Thanet College in Kent, England and maintains many certifications and specialty trainings, including Non-Violent Management of Aggressive Behaviors, Crisis Prevention Intervention (CPI), CPI Instructor Certification and Alzheimer’s Education.

Public Works

Rebecca Santos joins the Public Works crew as Chatham’s newest Gate and Scale Attendant at the Transfer Station on Thursday, September 26^th.

Ms. Santos comes to Chatham from the C.H.I.P.S House in Centerville, where she has served as the Residential Manager. She also works part-time as a Hostess at Oliver’s Tavern in Yarmouth. Previously, Rebecca worked in a part-time capacity as a Scale Operator for the Town of Yarmouth for three years and looks forward to resuming the work.

Two women seated in chairs speaking to each other.

October Flash TV Out Now!

Check out the October edition of FLASH TV and make your plans to participate in programs and events scheduled at the Center for Active Living and the Community Center by the Department of Community Services next month.

Also featured is a conversation with Diane Nash, the Town's first Adult Behavioral Health Community Services Clinician, about her professional background and her first two months working for the community.

Person in orange vest standing on a large pipe in the ground with an excavator in the background

Sewer Construction Update

September 23rd – 27th:

Route 137/Morton Road Sewer Extension

Continued site work at Pump Station #3 (Meetinghouse Road) and Pump Station #4 (Twine Field Drive) is expected.

Stage Harbor Road Sewer Extension

Continued site work is expected at the pumping station site (Old Mill Boat Yard/Harbormasters Garage).

Continued sewer work and paving is expected on Honeysuckle Lane. For public safety reasons, the road will be closed from Honeysuckle Lane to Bridge Street. Local traffic only but access may be limited depending on the construction. Police details and signage will be in place.

Detour will be as follows:

Detour from Champlain Road – via Bridge Street
Detour from Bridge Street around Champlain Road
From Stage Harbor Road – via Cedar Street to Champlain Road

Oyster Pond Sewer Extension

Continued construction at the Independence Lane Pump Station site and Independence Lane. Construction on Independence Lane is expected to continue through mid-October. Starting SEPTEMBER 16, 2024, to avoid being inconvenienced during the daytime you will be required to move your vehicles off Independence Lane before 7:00AM. The Chatham Police Department will be on site daily to assist you finding alternate parking.

No work is planned on the Queen Anne Road Pump Station or the Mill Pond Pump Station.

Contractor hours are typically from 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM, weather depending. No work is scheduled for nights, weekends, or holidays. Work may be extended to 7 PM under special circumstances.

Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award

On Wednesday, September 11^th at the Airport Commission meeting the Federal Aviation Administration’s Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award, recognizing pilots who have demonstrated professionalism, skill, and aviation expertise by maintaining safe operations for 50 or more years, was presented to Jim Lortsher.

Mr. Lortsher is Senior certified flight instructor for Stick N Rudder Flight School operating out of Chatham Municipal Airport (CQX). He served 11 years active duty and reserves in the United States Air Force and has over 15,500 hours as a commercial pilot and FAA certified instrument flight instructor.

Mr. Lortsher has been working at CQX for the past several years part time training students and help mentor & train new pilot staff each year.

Please join us in congratulating Jim on this distinguished acheivement!

Community Preservation Committee Public Hearing Scheduled

Chatham’s Community Preservation Committee (CPC) will hold a Public Hearing on Monday, October 7th at 4:00 PM in the small conference room at the Town Annex, 261 George Ryder Road.

The purpose of the Hearing is to solicit input from Chatham citizens to guide the CPC’s decision-making on Community Preservation Act (CPA) project proposals. Any individual, non-profit organization, or Town entity may submit an application for funds and present their project to the CPC. The deadline in Chatham for submitting applications for CPA funding in 2025 is November 1, 2024.

Chatham adopted the CPA in 2002, approving a 3% property tax surcharge which, combined with funds from the State, support local projects addressing four allowable purposes; open space, historic preservation, outdoor recreation and community housing. To date, over $25 million has been approved at Town Meetings to fund 197 CPC recommended projects benefiting Chatham.

The Chatham CPC welcomes questions, comments and advice from any Town resident.

Three C's in a row between a fish head and fish tail

Cultural Council Grant Cycle Open

The Chatham Cultural Council (CCC) is now accepting applications for grants! The CCC welcomes grant applications from non-profit organizations and individuals with proposals in the arts, humanities, and sciences and is accepting applications for grants beginning September 1st through October 17, 2024. Applications must be completed online at the Massachusetts Cultural Council’s website https://massculturalcouncil.smartsimple.com/s_Login.jsp where information on the application guidelines and process is available.

The largest grassroots cultural funding network in the nation, Massachusetts' Local Cultural Council Program enriches the cultural life of all cities and towns throughout the Commonwealth and awards $7.5 million every year, supporting 7,500 cultural programs that include everything from field trips to lectures, festivals, and dance performances. This past year, the Chatham Cultural Council awarded 28 grants totaling over $19,000.00 that enriched the lives of our Cape Cod community.

For more information, contact either of the Co-Chairs, Sue Foster at 508-945-2236 or Barry Desilets at 508-726-4267. Applications are due by October 16, 2024. Don’t wait until the last minute to apply!

Join the Community Housing Partnership

The Town’s Community Housing Partnership (formerly the Affordable Housing Committee) is looking for two members who are passionate about addressing the Town’s housing needs.

The Community Housing Partnership’s mission is to educate the public on the need for housing diversity in Town by engaging with key committees, groups, citizens, within the town and regionally, to learn and disseminate relevant local, state, and federal housing information, opportunities, initiatives, and concerns.

The Community Housing Partnership advocates for all demographics, including a range of family sizes, seniors, singles, and younger people new to the housing market and for the protection of housing interests of vulnerable and resource-challenged populations, and to preserve housing which could serve or shelter lower income people.

The Community Housing Partnership makes recommendations to the Select Board and to Town Meeting on all housing related issues.

If you are interested in serving, please complete a Talent Bank form to be considered.

Next Select Board Meeting - Sept. 24, 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#.

I. Minutes

A. August 20, 2024

B. September 10, 2024

II. Public Announcements and Agenda Requests

III. Public Comments on Business Agenda

IV. Business Agenda

A. Special Town Meeting of September 16, 2024 – Recap Discussion/Follow-Up Items

B. Weston & Sampson – Hydraulic Analysis Presentation on Town’s Water Supply – Director of Public Works Rob Faley

C. Presentation and Review of Final Draft Housing Production Plan (Public Comment Will Be Accepted) – Housing and Sustainability Director Gloria McPherson

D. Consider Acceptance of $10,000 Donation to Support the Removal of Trees that have Fallen into Town Waterways - Director of Natural Resources Greg Berman

E. Consider Request for Sales on Town Property; South Chatham Public Library Author’s Night on October 6, 2024 from 3:00 – 5:00 pm at the Chatham Community Center – South Chatham Public Library

F. Consider Special One-Day Alcohol Permit; Meet the Fleet on September 25, 2024 from 5:00 – 7:00 pm at 1566 Main Street, Chatham – Cape Cod Fishermen’s Alliance

G. Consider Special One-Day Alcohol Permit; Mahi Gold Sip and Shop on October 19, 2024 from 12:00 noon – 8:00 pm; December 13, 2024 from 12:00 noon – 10:00 pm; and December 14, 2024 from 12:00 noon – 10:00 pm at 465 Main Street – Sam Johnson

H. Consider Special One-Day Alcohol Permit; Chatham Boat Company Fall Open House on Saturday October 5, 2024 from 11:00 am – 4:00 pm at 174 Crowell Road – Todd Fedele

I. Consider Request for Sales on Town Property; 17th Annual Holiday Shopping Fair on November 23, 2024 from 9:00 am – 2:00 pm at the Chatham Community Center

J. Chatham Chamber and Merchants Association Oktoberfest (October 19, 2024) Update on May 28, 2024 Board Approval; Entrance Fee Request

K. Appointments

a. Community Housing Partnership

L. Town Manager’s Monthly Report – August 2024

V. Executive Session – MGL Chapter 30A, §21 (3) – To discuss strategy with respect to litigation (32 Mill Hill Rd.) if an open meeting may have a detrimental effect on the litigation position of the public body and the Chair so declares 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!

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