An Unexpected Loss

On behalf of the Select Board, Town Manager Jill Goldsmith, and Town staff:

We are deeply saddened to learn of the sudden passing of Mary Cavanaugh, Executive Director of the Chatham Chamber of Commerce.

Mary was a vital partner to the Town throughout her tenure at the Chamber and was a key component in improving communications between local government and the business community, particularly throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Her inclusion of the Select Board and Town Manager in Ribbon Cutting ceremonies for new businesses in Town highlighted the close partnership we share which she was vital in building.

Her love for Chatham was evident in the enthusiasm with which she promoted local businesses and events in her professional capacity and her personal interactions as a resident. She brought a light to every room she entered, and she will be missed by many.

We offer our deepest condolences to her family and friends at this most difficult time.

Square Red flag with black square in the center on a flag pole against gray sky

Tropical Storm Warning In Effect

Our area remains under a Tropical Storm Warning due to expected impacts from Hurricane Lee.

While the center of Hurricane Lee will remain well to the east of the Cape, its wind field is quite large and we will experience sustained winds over 40 mph beginning Friday evening with peak wind gusts of 50-70 mph between 4 a.m. – 8 a.m. on Saturday morning. Winds are expected to rapidly decrease Saturday afternoon.

Rainfall amounts in the 1-2” range are expected. While the wind direction and tide cycle are not favorable to widespread coastal flooding, vulnerable areas of Town will be monitored throughout the storm.

Citizens should take the necessary precautions to prepare their properties for these conditions.

Power outages are expected. Charge cell phones and other devices and check batteries in flashlights and portable radios.

Anyone encountering fallen trees or wires should call 911 and stay well away from downed lines – they may be charged.

The Community Center will be open regular operating hours on Saturday from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. if you lose power and need to charge your devices.

The Transfer Station will open at 12 noon on Saturday.

Storm-related questions should be directed to the Emergency Operations Center at 508-945-5191. In an emergency dial 911!

North Beach Closed to OSV Traffic

North Beach closed to Over Sand Vehicle Traffic as of noon on Friday, September 15th due to the approach of Hurricane Lee.

Shellfish Closure

Effective at sunset Friday, September 15, 2023, all waters, flats and tributaries within the Commonwealth of Massachusetts will be closed to the taking of all shellfish until further notice.

Elevation rendering of proposed Center for Active Living at 1610 Main Street

Special Town Meeting Monday

The Special Town Meeting will be held on Monday, September 18, 2023 beginning at 6:00 p.m. in the Monomoy Middle School gymnasium, 425 Crowell Road, to consider 8 articles, including the design & construction of a Center for Active Living at 1610 Main St. You must be present at the Special Town Meeting in order to vote on these articles.

Special Town Meeting warrants are available for viewing and downloading on the Town's website. Hard copies are available at Town offices, the Community Center, the Center for Active Living, and Chatham Post Office branches. If you pick-up a hard copy of the warrant before the Special Town Meeting, please bring it with you on September 18th. Hard copies of the warrant will be available at the Special Town Meeting as well.

In addition to the lots at the Middle School, parking is available in the lot on Stepping Stones Road, and at the Department of Public Works (DPW) facility on Crowell Road. CERT volunteers will be on hand to shuttle individuals by golf cart/ATV to the school from the DPW lot. Parking is not allowed on the west side of Crowell Road.

Transportation is available from your home to the school by appointment. Please call the Center for Active Living (508-945-5190) to reserve your seat no later than 12 noon on Monday, September 18, 2023.

Multiple check-in stations will be open to check voters in and issue electronic voting devices. Please enter the lobby to queue up at a station. Check-in will begin at 4:45 p.m.

Drop off for reserved child care begins at 5:00 p.m. in the Middle School Library.

Tall Ship Lynx visits Stage Harbor

The Tall Ship Lynx visited Stage Harbor this week and hosted public tours of the ship and students from Monomoy Regional Middle School. The ship departed on Thursday, heading to Woods Hole in anticipation of impacts from Hurricane Lee.

Graphic of woman blowing nose with virus icons around her

COVID 19 Test Kits Available

COVID-19 infections have increased nationally and there are numerous cases being reported locally. If you have symptoms, play it safe and get tested to have access to the best treatments and to protect your family and friends.

Free test kits are available to residents at the Health Department, 261 George Ryder Road.

Tax Bills to be Issued on September 21st

Real Estate and Personal Property tax bills for FY2024 will be issued on September 21st. If you don't receive your bill within 10 days of issuance, please contact the Treasurer/Collector's Office at 508-945-5108.

The total amount of taxes, betterments, special assessments, and other charges you owe for fiscal year 2024 is payable in two payments (semi-annual). Your first payment is due on November 1, 2023, or 30 days after the date tax bills were mailed, whichever is later, and should be at least one-half of the tax and any betterments, special assessments and other charges shown. The balance is due May 1, 2023.

Payments are due by 4pm on the due date

Payments can be made on-line and/or established on automatic payment at https://www.chatham-ma.gov/615/Pay-Online

Checks should be made payable to the Town of Chatham

If your payments are not made by their due dates, interest at the rate of 14% per annum will be charged on the unpaid and overdue amount. Interest is computed on overdue first payments from November 1, 2023, or the payment due date, whichever was later, and on overdue second payments from May 1, 2024, to the date payment is made. You will also be required to pay charges and fees incurred for collection if payments are not made when due. Payments are considered made when received by the Collector. To obtain a receipted bill, enclose a self-addressed stamped envelope and both copies of the bill with your payment.

If you have questions on your valuation or assessment or on abatements or exemptions, or to change your mailing address you should contact the Board of Assessors 508-945-5103.

If you have questions on payments, you should contact the Collector's Office at 508-945-5108.

Chatham Rec Offers Pickleball Lessons

The Recreation and Beaches Division is offering Beginner and Advanced Beginner/Intermediate Pickleball lessons this fall.

Four sessions are offered. The Beginner session meets on Mondays from 12 noon to 2 p.m. from September 25th - October 30 (no class October 9th). Advanced Beginner/Intermediate sessions are offered on Wednesdays from 12 noon to 2 p.m. from September 27th to October 25th and two sessions on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 10:15 a.m. and from 10:30 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. from October 7th to November 18th (no class on October 21st). All sessions ar $75 per person.

Registration is available online through the Recreation and Beaches website.

BOCH CERT Training Planned

The Brewster Orleans Chatham Harwich (BOCH) Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) will hold an annual training course for new members from October 12th through November 4th at the Community Center. Classes will be held on Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. with two practical sessions on Saturdays October 28th and November 4th.

The course will follow Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) standardized training and will include a session on Sheltering and Community Point of Distribution. New members will receive First Aid, CPR, and Automatic External Defibrillator (AED) training.

More information and applications are available on the BOCH CERT website.

Next Select Board Meeting - Sept. 19, 2023 @ 5:00 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. Affordable Housing Trust Fund Board of Trustees Meeting

A. Convene Affordable Housing Trust Fund Board of Trustees Meeting

B. Preferred Development Concepts for Meetinghouse and Main Street Properties

C. Adjourn Affordable Housing Trust Fund Board of Trustees Meeting

II. Select Board Meeting

A. Minutes

i. August 29, 2023

ii. September 12, 2023

B. Public Announcements and Agenda Item Requests

C. Public Hearings

i. Utility Pole Hearing; New Jointly Owned Pole, Dusty Miller Lane

D. Drinking Water Testing and Pumping Update – Director of Public Works Rob Faley

E. Public Comment on Business Agenda

F. Business Agenda

i. Special Town Meeting of September 18, 2023 – Follow Up Discussion

ii. Consider Use of Town Roads – Annual Turkey Trot, November 23, 2023 – Katie Wibby

iii. Consider Oktoberfest Requests; Sales on Town Property/Outdoor Display of Goods; Alcohol on Town Property; Special One Day Alcohol Permit; One Day Entertainment Permit, Kate Gould Park, October 21, 2023 – Kristin Muller & Barry Desilets

iv. Consider Special One Day License; Emma Belle’s Café, September 26, 2023– Shane Coughlin

v. Consider Sales on Town Property; South Chatham Public Library Sponsored Authors Night at the Community Center, October 1, 2023 – Carol Gordon

vi. Cape Public Health Collaborative Intermunicipal Agreement (IMA) – Health Agent Judy Giorgio

vii. Consider the Appointment of two Alternate Members of the Summer Residents Advisory Committee to Full Member Status (Two Full Member Vacancies)

viii. Consider Sending a Request to the Finance Committee that they Appoint its Chair or his/her Designee to Serve as a Liaison from the Finance Committee to the Newly-Constructed Board of Trustees of the Affordable Housing Trust (DN)

ix. Ratification of the Town Manager’s Designation of Dan Tobin as the Interim Tree Warden (for a period of two years or until such time as a successor is duly qualified/appointed)

x. Annual Review of Town Boards/Commissions/Committees by the Select Board

xi. Town Manager Report – August 2023

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