Christmas by the Sea Weekend

The Chatham Merchant’s Association annual Christmas by the Sea weekend kicks off tonight with the Christmas Stroll, light parade, and tree lighting.

The light parade led by Santa himself will leave the Community Center at 5:30 p.m. and head to Sears Park for the tree lighting at 5:45 p.m. There will also be free horse and carriage rides from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. A full listing of events is available on the Chamber of Commerce's website.

Many local merchants will be offering discounts and promotions throughout the weekend. This is an extremely popular event, and the Town will be jammed with holiday revelers. If you are driving through the downtown area, especially this evening, please be extra cautious and aware of pedestrians.

View of Lighthouse Beach from the overlook

Seasonal Community Designation

The Town has been notified by the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities (EOHLC) that pursuant to the Affordable Homes Act, Chatham has been designated as a Seasonal Community due to its status as a municipality with over 35% seasonal housing units in Barnstable County.

Governor Healey signed the Affordable Homes Act into law in August 2024 creating the Seasonal Communities Designation and tools that designated communities can use to address housing needs. Based on the language of the Affordable Homes Act, some of the tools Seasonal Communities now have include:

Acquire year-round housing occupancy
Develop housing with a preference for municipal workers
Establish a Year-Round Housing Trust Fund to create and preserve affordable and attainable housing for year-round residents
Create year-round housing for artists
Allow Seasonal Communities to develop a comprehensive needs assessment
Allow tiny homes to be built by-right and used as year-round housing
Increase the property tax exemption for homes that are the owners’ primary residence

The EOHLC is working to develop guidance for Seasonal Communities to begin using these tools.

Blue pennants with Team Chatham on them in a basket on the grass

Team Chatham News

Team Chatham’s own Alexis Weglarz has been promoted to Department Coordinator for the Council on Aging. Ms. Weglarz has been the Council on Aging Department Assistant since May of 2024 and is a familiar face to our Center for Active Living (CFAL) participants and clients. Prior to her employment with the Town, she served as a receptionist at Cape Cod Healthcare. She was also a server at Larry’s PX in Chatham for 12 years.

Team Chatham also welcomes Matthew Eames as a member of the Parks and Grounds Division of the Department of Public Works. Mr. Eames has worked as a Tow Truck Driver for the past nine years, responding to auto emergencies and operating vehicles in variety of weather-related events. Most recently, he served as Dispatcher and Tow Truck Driver for Buckler’s Towing Service out of Hyannis. Prior to his tenure as a driver, he worked as a Fleet Mechanic and Landscaper.

Congratulations Alexis and welcome Matt!

Save the Date - Public Forum on CFAL Renovation Scheduled

On January 7, 2025 the Select Board and the Council on Aging Board of Directors will meet jointly to receive a final presentation of the draft feasibility study to renovate the Center for Active Living (CFAL), 193 Stony Hill Road, and hear from the community in a public forum.

This final presentation builds upon previous discussions with Kurt Raber, owner/partner at Catalyst Architecture/Interiors Inc., held on March 18, 2024, and June 25, 2024. Materials will be posted in advance of the public forum.

The public is encouraged to participate in the forum either in-person at 5:30 p.m. in the large meeting room of the Town Office Annex, 261 George Ryder Road, or remotely through the link in the meeting’s posted agenda.

Select Board and Town Manager seated at the dais in te large meeting room

Select Board Action - December 10th

One public hearing was held on an application to change the manager on the two annual all alcoholic beverages hotel licenses held by Chatham Bars Inn. The Board approved Shaun Linehan as the new Manager of Record on the licenses.

Director of Public Works Rob Faley updated the Board on the status of the Town’s drinking water wells. He noted testing results for bacteria and PFAS, with one well having a PFAS detect that was within allowable limits. He reviewed the amount of water pumped over the month. He also reviewed ground water level reports and noted that this is typically when groundwater levels begin to rebound.

In compliance with General Bylaw Number the Select Board set the date and time of 2025 Annual Town Meeting as Saturday, May 10, 2025 at 11 a.m. in the Monomoy Regional Middle School gymnasium, 425 Crowell Road.

After an introduction of the process to grant a license for commercial non-fishing uses of the Fish Pier and some discussion on insurance and fees, Board members expressed reluctance to grant licenses for the use of the Fish Pier for these purposes. Town Manager Jill Goldsmith also expressed her concerns about the granting of such licenses. The Board took no action.

Finance Director Carrie Mazerolle reviewed proposed Capital Improvement Projects (CIP) and potential separate capital articles with potential funding sources for 2025 Annual Town Meeting. Projects included renovating the Center for Active Living, upgrades at the Transfer Station, dredging, a new ambulance and continuation of the sewer project. Board members provided input on priorities and preferences for use of Free Cash as a funding source.

Finance Director Carrie Mazerolle explained that the Town’s American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds must be obligated in the form of contract or purchase order by Dec. 31 2024 and expended by Dec. 31, 2026. She reviewed the recommended uses of the funds including ADA upgrades to public restrooms at 549 Main, public records request management software, electrical upgrades at Kate Gould Park and hazardous waste program. Director Mazerolle explained that the projects/purchases selected had already gone through procurement process and could meet the obligation deadline. The Board voted to approve the use of ARPA funds as proposed.

Greg Connors and James Nash were appointed to the Aunt Lydia’s Cove Committee and Robert Stevens was elevated from an Alternate member to a full member on the Historical Commission.

The meeting may be viewed in its entirety through Chatham TVs on-demand archive.

Parents Night Out - Drop the kids at the Community Center on Friday, December 20 from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Registration required.

Public Information Webinar & Public Comment Period; ADUs By Right

With the signing of the Affordable Homes Act, new law was established enabling property owners to build Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) ‘by right’ in all single-family zoning districts statewide.

Draft regulations have been released by the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities (EOHLC) with final regulations expected to be released by February 2, 2025, the effective date of the ADU law.

A public information webinar will be held on December 16th at 11 a.m. Registration is required.

The public comment period will be open on the draft regulations from December 20th through January 10th when a public hearing will be held. Speaker sign-up for the public hearing will be posted in January at www.mass.gov/adu.

EOHLC is particularly interested in feedback on how the regulations should address:

Pre-existing nonconformities
How dimensional standards apply
Utility connections, especially water and sewer
Addresses for accessory dwelling units

A group of people seated around a conference table

Resolve to Get Involved

If you are looking for a productive way to give back to the Chatham community in the new year, consider applying to serve on one of the Town’s regulatory Boards or Commissions or an Advisory Committee. A variety of opportunities to serve are available that appeal to a range of interests and experiences. Check out the entire list of volunteer opportunities and apply online!

Town seal with the silhouette of a speaker at a podium in the center

Upcoming Public Hearings

January 14th

To consider a petition from Verizon New England Inc. and NSTAR Electric d/b/a Eversource Energy to place one (1) jointly owned pole, P.30.25, on the northerly side of Main Street to a point approximately 60' northwesterly from existing pole, P.30.50, and to a point approximately 37' southeasterly from existing pole. P.30. This additional pole is necessary to upgrade services for 365 Main Street.

To consider the installation of one additional stop sign with reflective tape on the pole to be placed on the opposite corner of the existing stop sign on Sam Ryder Road at its intersection with Main Street/Route 28.

All interested parties are encouraged to participate in-person or through the link in the posted agenda.

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

Sewer/Road Construction Update

December 16th - December 20th

Morton Road/Meetinghouse Road Sewer Extension Project

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

Stage Harbor Road Sewer Extension Project

Site work is expected to continue at the pump station site (Old Mill Boat Yard/Harbormasters Garage).

Oyster Pond Sewer Extension Project

Sewer work will continue on Pond View Avenue. Access will be limited; police detail(s) will be on-site to assist residents.

Mill Pond Pump Station

Sewer work will continue on Mill Pond Road. Road closures are expected for Mill Pond Road and Homestead Lane, local traffic only. Police detail(s) will be on-site to assist motorists. Work associated with the Mill Pond Pumping Station will close access to the Town Landing.

Old Harbor Road/Seaview Street

Final paving is scheduled for the middle of next week. Access will be limited; police detail(s) will be on-site to assist residents.

Ask A Public Health Nurse

A Public Health Nurse from Barnstable County’s Department of Health and Environment will be at the Community Center, 702 Main Street, from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Wednesday, December 18th.

The County’s Public Health Nurses provide blood pressure and glucose testing as well as nursing consultations and information on a variety of health topics. Stop by, no appointment necessary!

Red toy truck with Christmas tree in the back

Christmas Tree Pick-Up Fundraiser

Chatham Boy Scout Troop 71 is once again holding its Christmas Tree Pick-Up Benefit Fundraiser.

The Scouts will pick-up your undecorated (remove all ornaments, lights, tinsel, etc.) tree Saturday, January 4th – Sunday, January 5th and dispose of it. 100% of the donation proceeds, suggested at $20 per tree, will benefit the Chatham Angel Fund and the Family Pantry of Cape Cod.

Sign up by December 30th online at TinyURL.com/BoyScoutTreePickUp, via email to ChathamScouting@gmail.com or by calling either 508-945-0764 or 978-505-5379. Trees should be placed curbside by 8 a.m. on January 4th.

Adopt-a-Family for the Holidays

For each of the last 29 years the Homeless Prevention Council, based in Orleans, has held its Adopt-A-Family holiday gift program to support families with children living in the eight Lower and Outer Cape towns from Harwich to Provincetown.

To get matched with a family, make a monetary donation or contribute gift cards, visit the Adopt-Family webpage to learn more. If you or someone you know is interested in learning about how to receive gifts from the Adopt-A-Family program please email help@hpccapecod.org or call 508-255-9667, ext. 100.

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!

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