Red Fire Truck door with Chatham Fire Rescue in gold lettering

New Leadership At Fire/Rescue

Effective December 1st, our current Deputy Fire Chief Justin Tavano will step into the role of Chief of the Fire Rescue Department. He will be joined at the helm by Ryan Clarke who will be promoted from Captain to Deputy Fire Chief effective the same day.

These internal promotions follow the retirement of Chief Dave Depasquale who has served our community as a member of the Department for 33 years.

Deputy Chief Tavano began his career with the Town as a Call Firefighter in 2004 and signed on full-time in 2006. He has served as the Department's public education Coordinator since 2013, and was promoted to Deputy Fire Chief from Lieutenant in May 2020.

Captain Clarke joined the Department in July 2007 as a Firefighter/EMT and subsequently attained his Paramedic certification. He was promoted to Lieutenant in August 2017 and to Captain in August 2021. He has served as a member of the Monomoy Regional School District Crisis Team, Barnstable County Active Assailant Taskforce, and as Regional Program Coordinator for the Cape and Islands Youth Fire Setting Intervention Task Force.

A formal promotional ceremony will take place at the Fire Station, 135 Depot Road, on Wednesday, November 30th at 12 noon, following the "Last Coffee" with Chief DePasquale from 10 a.m. - 12 noon. The public is invited to join the Department to celebrate these dedicated public servants.

Key ring white white house shape and black key on orange background

Moving Closer to Increasing Housing

The Town of Chatham and Chatham’s Affordable Housing Trust Fund Board of Trustees have purchased an approximately 2.5 acre parcel of land on Main Street in West Chatham from the Estate of Joseph P. Buckley and Gloria B. Bodman for the purpose of building affordable and attainable housing. The closing took place on November 7^th.

Representatives of the families responded to a Request for Proposals (RFP) that the Town and Trust had issued seeking for land or property suitable for affordable and attainable housing. The land was purchased for $1,375,000 with 50% of the funds coming from the Affordable Housing Trust and 50% of the funds from Free Cash. 2021 Annual Town Meeting voted to approve the utilization of Free Cash for the purchase.

Town Manager Jill Goldsmith said “This purchase puts Chatham in position to begin creating much needed affordable & attainable Housing, we again thank the Buckley/Bodman families for their response to the RFP and their commitment to helping to create year round housing opportunities.”

Select Board Chair Jeffrey Dykens said “The Select Board is thrilled that we have closed on the Buckley property. This piece, along with the Stepping Stones and Meetinghouse parcels, stands as testimony to the Town’s commitment to develop affordable and attainable housing in a very challenging market as we attempt to attract and keep year-round residents and thus create a more diverse and sustainable community. We certainly look forward to all three parcel’s actual development.”

This Town intends to begin Community Engagement on this property as well as the recently purchased property on Meetinghouse Road in early December.

Water Bills Delayed

Due to the need to contract with a new bill printer, there has been a delay in the issuance of water bills. We apologize for the inconvenience and ask that our water customers remain patient.

If you have set up an autopay on your account, you will need to check the payment date when you receive notice that your bill has been issued. If you wish, you may pre-pay on your account towards your anticipated balance by sending a check, including your water account number and a note indicating your intention to pre-pay, to the Treasurer/Collector, 549 Main Street, Chatham, MA 02633.

Bills will be due 30 days from the date they are issued.

silhouette of a runner against the silhouette of Cape Cod in black

Chatham in the Fall 10K Sunday

The Chatham in the Fall 10K steps off at 11 a.m. on Sunday, November 20th at the intersection of Stepping Stone Road and Crowell Road.

Runners will proceed south on Crowell Road, cross Main Street to Queen Anne Road, follow Pond Street to Stage Harbor Road, then follow Cedar Street. They will continue onto Battlefield Road, traverse Champlain Road to Bridge Street, and turn north on Shore Road. Their final leg will be from Shore Road to Barcliff Avenue, to Tip Cart, before turning north on Crowell Road to the finish line at the southern intersection of Crowell Road and Meadow Brook Road.

We ask motorists to use caution along the race route.

Police officers holding toys on either side of a Toys for Tots collection bin

Officer Charles Chaprales (left) & Officer Chris Vardakis (right).

Toys for Tots Collection Underway

It's Toys for Tots season again! The Police Department is collecting new (unwrapped) toys in the drop box located in the Police Station lobby. The drop box is available 24 hours a day.

As always, these toys stay on Cape and go to local families in need.

The Department also will be hosting the annual Stuff a Cruiser event on Saturday, December 3rd at Ocean State Job Lot. The Department extends its appreciation to OSJL for being a supporter of the event for the past several years.

Congratulations Jeremy!

Jeremy Sinclair, a Heavy Equipment Operator in the Highway Division, recently passed the CDL - Class A exam. The Town encourages our Team Members to advance their educations and professional licensures and we celebrate their achievements!
Way to go Jeremy!

Shop Small in white inside a white circle with dark blue background

Shop Small Next Saturday

After you've had your fill of turkey and pumpkin pie next Thursday, and of crowded big box stores on Black Friday, head out and visit our local retailers on Shop Small Saturday!

Our local stores are the lifeblood of our community. They create good paying jobs for our neighbors and many support our non-profit and not-for-profit organizations in their year-round efforts. Shop small, shop local!

Free Rides From CCRTA

Cape Cod Regional Transit Authority (CCRTA) has announced that from November 25^th through December 31^stFixed Route bus services will be free every Friday and Saturday thanks, in part, to a grant included in the state budget and awarded by the Massachusetts Department of Transportation. The program is designed to encourage new customers to “Try Transit” by offering no cost trips to shop or dine at local businesses, visit with friends and family, and commute to work during the holiday season. The Cape Cod RTA also offers Free Fares for adults 60 and over every Wednesday.

“Although primarily designed to attract new customers by easing access to services, “Try Transit” will of course also offer a financial reprieve to current riders during these times of high inflation and holiday shopping. It is expected that the savings and increased mobility offered by CCRTA fixed route services will translate into increased spending at local shops and restaurants. In addition, using public transit during the holiday season will help to address parking challenges that exist and reduce greenhouse gas emissions,” stated CCRTA Administrator Tom Cahir.

To find schedules for fixed routes that run through Town visit the CCRTA website.

Next Select Board Meeting - Nov. 22, 2022 @ 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

November 15, 2022

II. Public Announcements and Agenda Item Requests

III. Public Hearings

1. New Utility Pole; Corner of Oyster Pond Furlong and Queen Anne Road

IV. Public Comments on Business Agenda

V. Business Agenda (Board Discussion Items)

1. Consider Requests for Extensions of Seasonal Alcohol Licenses

2. Consider Special One Day Alcohol Permit Applications

a. Atlantic White Shark Conservancy; 235 Orleans Road; December 1, 2022, 5:30 p.m. -7:30 p.m.

b. Cape Life Brand; 403 Main Street; December 9, 2022, 4 p.m. – 8 p.m. & December 10, 2022, 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.

3. Nantucket Sound Shoreline Erosion, Nourishment and Shoaling Protection Study Update; Upcoming Public Information Session – Coastal Resources Director Ted Keon

4. Town Manager’s Report – Monthly Report for October 2022

VI. Executive Session – MGL Ch 30a, §21 #2

To conduct collective bargaining sessions or contract negotiations with nonunion personnel (Town Manager) would 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!

Town of Chatham website www.chatham-ma.gov