Blue oval sign for 193 Stony Hill Road which is the Center for Active Living

Joint Select Board & COA Board Meeting

The Select Board and the Council on Aging Board of Directors will hold a special joint meeting on Monday, March 18, 2024 in the large meeting room of the Town Office Annex, 261 George Ryder Road, beginning at 5:30 p.m. to hear and review the results of a feasibility study on possible renovation and/or expansion of the existing Center for Active Living (CFAL) at 193 Stony Hill Road and to discuss any potential next steps.

The public is encouraged to participate in this hybrid meeting either in-person or remotely through the link in the meeting’s posted agenda.

Catalyst Architects was contracted to conduct the feasibility study by Town Manager Jill Goldsmith following the October 31, 2023 vote of the Select Board to task the Town Manager to engage a professional consultant to evaluate the possible remediation of major deficiencies at the current CFAL facility at 193 Stony Hill Road, so as to help make the facility more serviceable for the needs of Chatham’s seniors; and for the study to include an approximate cost estimate for any such remediation.

Housing Production Plan Update Announcement

Community Visioning Forum on Housing Production Plan Update

Join Town officials for a Community Visioning Forum on the update of the Town's Housing Needs Assessment and Housing Production Plan on Wednesday, March 20 from 5:00-7:00 pm. in the Small Meeting Room, Town Offices Annex, 261 George Ryder Road.

Residents and those with a connection to Chatham are invited to participate in this interactive Community Visioning Forum to help guide Chatham’s housing policies and initiatives as part of the 2024 Housing Production Plan (HPP) Update. Chatham’s last Housing Production Plan was completed in 2018.

The community forum will be professionally facilitated by JM Goldson, along with members of the the Department of Community Development and the Affordable Housing Trust. The forum will begin with a hybrid (in person and online) presentation of information on Chatham’s housing needs and accomplishments. The second portion of the forum will be an in-person “Open House” with interactive activities to better understand the community’s vision for affordable and attainable housing in Chatham.

The Town will soon also issue a Community Visioning Survey, which will provide another opportunity for members of the Chatham community to provide feedback for the Housing Production Plan. Feedback gathered from the Community Visioning Forum and the survey will help form the basis of the Housing Production Plan update, which is the Town’s primary guide for developing affordable and attainable housing opportunities that will help Chatham meet its housing goals for its residents, workforce, and school community.

Silver Electric vehicle charging behind the Town offices

Going Green, Every Day

March 17^th may boast some serious green vibes, but Chatham is “going green” every day of the year!

We are well on our way to achieving our goal of 100% sustainable energy consumption at municipal facilities. In 2023 alone, our six photovoltaic solar installations generated over 2.4 million kWh of power, offsetting a significant portion of our municipal energy consumption. Up next, completion of the installation on the Community Center roof and the addition of a solar canopy at the Police Station fleet parking lot.

We're also driving towards a greener future with four electric vehicles (EVs) in the municipal fleet and charging stations installed at the Annex to keep them powered-up. And public charging stations are on the way at the Eldredge Garage Visitor Center and parking lot and being pursued at Chatham Municipal Airport.

And that’s just the beginning! In 2024, we're launching our first "Green Communities" projects, upgrading equipment and transitioning to efficient LED lighting at key facilities like the Water Pollution Control Facility and Department of Public Works Complex.

And let's not forget our coastal resiliency efforts, collaborating with partners to tackle climate change head-on and protect our beloved shoreline. From comprehensive salt marsh studies to collaboration with the Pleasant Bay Alliance on climate adaptation plans, and the Cape Cod Commission on the Low-Lying Roads project, we're committed to protecting our community for generations to come.

Together, we're making Chatham a greener, more sustainable place to live, work, and play.

Horse Chestnut Tree in front of the Eldredge Public Library

Tree Removal Scheduled at EPL

The removal of two trees, a 32’ Horse Chestnut and a 12’ Norway Maple, from the Eldredge Public Library property is scheduled for Wednesday, March 27^th, weather permitting.

A Police detail will be on site to direct vehicular and pedestrian traffic during the work. Library Lane may be closed for a brief period, but no detours are anticipated.

The Horse Chestnut located at the corner of Main Street and Library Lane will be cut into 4’ sections and donated to the Friends of Trees for repurposing. The Department of Public Works will assist the Friends of Trees with the removal and relocation of the salvaged wood.

Removal of the trees was approved by the Select Board at a Tree Warden Public Hearing on October 3, 2023 and is required for safety improvements at the site.

Plan Ahead for Easter Closings

Chatham Town Offices, the Community Center and the Transfer Station will be closed on Sunday, March 31st so that members of Team Chatham can spend the Easter holiday with family and friends.

Comment Period Extended for Crescent Beach Project

Following a remote consultation session on the potential environmental impacts of the Crescent Beach, Groin, Vanes and Beach Nourishment project, an Environmental Notification Form (ENF) has been submitted to the Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act (MEPA) office for the project.

THe ENF indicates that the project meets or exceeds certain thresholds and requires State Agency permits and financial assistance.

The comment period on the project has been extended to March 28th in anticipation of supplemental information.

Project information, including the complete ENF, is available on the MEPA Environmental Monitor webpage.

Person in orange safety vest standing on a pipe in the ground in front of an excavator

Sewer Construction Update

Sewer construction schedule for next week:

South Chatham (Meetinghouse Road, Morton Road Middle Road and vicinity)

Site work is expected to continue at Pump Station #3 (Meetinghouse Road) and Pump Station #4 (Twine Field Drive). Sewer work is tentatively scheduled off Middle Road at the Chatham Water Pollution Control Facility (WPCF). Limited manhole work is tentatively scheduled on Meetinghouse Road, Middle Road, and Morton Road. Police detail will be on-site in the immediate vicinity of the work area.

Queen Anne Road Pump Station

Work will continue at the pump station site (40 Queen Anne Road; south side of Queen Anne Road and Oyster Pond Furlong intersection).

Old Mill Boatyard/Stage Harbor Road

Site work is expected to continue at the pumping station site (Old Mill Boat Yard/Harbormasters Garage) and on sewer work/culvert repair along Stage Harbor Road. For public safety reasons, Stage Harbor Road between the Harbormaster’s Garage and Bridge Street will be closed and a detour will be in place. The detour route will be from Bridge Street north to Stage Harbor Road, to Cedar Street, to Champlain Road and from Champlain Road to Cedar Street to Stage Harbor Road to Bridge Street.

In addition, there will be a 24-hour road closure on Stage Harbor Road in front of the Harbormasters Garage to expedite roadwork this week – police detail will be in place. Continued sewer lateral work is expected on Cedar Swamp Lane (south) and Atwood Lane.

Kindergarten registration is open at Monomoy Regional School District

Ask The Town Manager

Do you have a question about Town government or are curious about how or why it works the way it does?

Are you interested to know the status of a project? Please email your question to Shanna Nealy and we will use this space to bring the answers to you.

Community Housing Partnership Seeks Volunteers

The Community Housing Partnership (formerly the Affordable Housing Committee) is seeking volunteers to fill two unexpired terms.

The Community Housing Partnership’s primary focus is on education and outreach regarding Chatham’s housing issues. The Partnership produces educational materials, meets with various civic organizations on housing needs, and is participating in the development of the Town’s Housing Production Plan update.

If you are interested in learning more about the work of the Partnership, email your questions to Gloria McPherson, Director of Housing and Sustainability. You can apply to serve on the Partnership or any of the Town's volunteer Boards, Commissions or Committees online.

Chatham Town Seal with silhouette of a speaker at a podium inside it

Upcoming Public Hearings

The Select Board will hold the following public hearings during its regularly scheduled meetings beginning at 5:30 p.m. in the large meeting room at the Town Office Annex, 261 George Ryder Road.

Remote participation is available through the link in the posted agendas.

March 26

To consider a petition from NSTAR Electric Company d/b/a Eversource Energy to install 40' +/- of 1"-4" PVC conduit encased in concrete from new handhold 108/H1A at base of pole 108/1 to customer installed handhole 108/H1B on Youngs road. The installation is being requested by Eversource to provide new underground service to the customer located at 132 Barn Hill Road.

To consider a request for a new entertainment license for live and recorded music/performances for Aplaya Kitchen and Tiki Bar, 483 Main Street.

Resin and seaglass workshop at Community Center April 27th

Person in a white Easter Bunny suit wearing a light green vest

Annual Easter Egg Hunt March 30th

The Chatham Chamber of Commerce and Merchant's Association Annual Easter Egg Hunt is on Saturday, March 30th, beginning at 11 a.m. in Kate Gould Park.

This free family event is geared toward egg hunters up to 10 years old. A special area of the Park will be reserved for the littlest participants up to age three. Bring a basket or a bag to collect the goodies!

Interested in helping out with this tradition? the Chamber is still accepting volunteers!

photograph of planet Earth from outerspace

Earth Day Celebrations

The Chatham Conservation Foundation will once again be hosting a myriad of events celebrating Earth Day from Friday, April 20th to Saturday, April 27th. Numerous businesses, and civic organizations will be partnering and participating in the festivities as well.

Two capstone events are planned. On Monday, April 22nd a Keynote Forum will be held from 4 p.m. - 6 p.m. at Chatham Bars Inn. Director of Natural Resources Greg Berman and Conservation Commission Chair Janet Williams will be the featured panelists for Time & Tide Wait for No One: Chatham's Journey Towards Coastal Resiliency which will review the ongoing impacts of climate change on Chatham.

On Saturday, April 27, the Foundation is organizing a Town-wide clean-up from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.. Teams from participating organizations will be volunteering in a community trash pick-up along Chatham street and beaches. The Foundation will assign routes up to one mile in length to individual teams and the expected time commitment is one hour. The Foundation will provide all supplies and equipment needed but each team will need to provide their own transportation to route site. Register for either the 9 a.m. or 11 a.m. start time on the Foundations website. If you have questions, please contact Ellen at the Foundation.

Next Select Board Meeting - March 19, 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. March 12, 2024

II. Public Announcements and Agenda Requests

III. Public Comments on Business Agenda

IV. Business Agenda

A. Seasonal Alcohol License Renewals

B. 2024 Annual Town Meeting Articles Review/Place/Vote

1. FY2024 Budget Adjustments/Transfers – Vote to Place

2. Collective Bargaining Agreements (July 1, 2024 – June 30, 2027) - PLACEHOLDER – Vote to Place

3. Monomoy Regional School District FY2025 Budget – Vote to Place and Recommend

4. Monomoy Regional School District Capital Borrowing Authorization – Monomoy Middle School Siding and Trim Replacement Project Discussion

5. Establish a Town of Chatham Adult Supportive Day Program – Vote to Place and Recommend

6. Property Acquisition – 0 Pleasant Street, Chatham - PLACEHOLDER – Vote to Place

7. Property Acquisition – 96 Commerce Park South - PLACEHOLDER – Vote to Place

8. Tree Protection Bylaw – Draft 2 – for Discussion Purposes

9. Tree Protection Bylaw – Establish a Tree Revolving Fund – Vote to Place and Recommend

10. Citizen Petition Article – Year-Round Housing Occupancy Restrictions Act – Vote to Recommend

11. 193 Stony Hill (Center for Active Living) Feasibility Study Report Funding Article – PLACEHOLDER – Vote to Place

12. Vote to Place Ballot Questions on the 2024 Annual Town Election Ballot

a. Debt Exclusion (Transfer Station Article ##)

b. Debt Exclusion Waterfront Infrastructure (Waterfront Bond Article ##)

13. Ordering of the Warrant and Motion Assignments

14. Vote to close the 2024 Annual Town Meeting Warrant

C. Appointments

1. Cape Cod Commission, Chatham Representative

2. Conservation Commission; Consider Reorganization of Members

3. Aunt Lydia’s Cove Committee

4. Historical Commission

5. Chatham Community Housing Partnership

6. Open Space Committee

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