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Rendering of the new Volunteer Park playground

Volunteer Park Playground Installation

Site preparation began on Thursday, April 18th for installation of new playground equipment, ADA compliant path, and poured-in-place play surface at Volunteer Park.

Once begun, installation of the path and equipment will take 2-3 weeks, weather dependent, with the installation of the play surface to follow.

It is very important for the safety of the public and the integrity of the installation that no one access the playground during the construction. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation!
Aerial view of Chatham Municipal Airport from the south

Chapter 100 Public Hearing Rescheduled

Due to posting requirements of Chapter 90, Section 40C the Select Board's public hearing to consider amending provisions of General Bylaw Chapter 100 (Airport Approach Zone Map and Scrivener's Error, Correction of "not") has been rescheduled to Tuesday, May 7th at 5:30 p.m. 

The proposed amendments are the subjects of Articles 39 and 40 of the 2024 Annual Town Meeting which may be reviewed in the posted warrant.

Additional information regarding the proposed amendment to the Airport Approach Zone Map, including an Interactive Map Viewer, has been posted to the Airport Commission's webpage.

Welcome to Team Chatham!

We are thrilled to welcome two new members to Team Chatham this month!

Leanne Gay has joined the Finance Department as our newest Assistant Treasurer/Collector. Ms. Gay has over 20 years of experience in bookkeeping with an emphasis on family wealth and concierge services for accounting firms in the Boston area and provided support to Forensic Accounting and Political departments with data entry, payroll and general bookkeeping.

Donald Richardson joins the crew at the Department of Public Works in the Parks and Grounds Division as our newest Laborer. Mr. Richardson brings over 15 years of experience with machine repair, snow removal, grounds maintenance,  and customer service to is new position. He has a forklift license and DOT OSHA 10 lock out certification.

Please join us in welcoming Leanne and Donald to Chatham!
Book and Media Swap April 27 and 28 at the Annex
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.

April 30

To consider a petition from Verizon New England, Inc. and NSTAR Electric Company d/b/a Eversource Energy to place two new jointly owned poles - 90/4 and 90/6 - and one push brace at pole 90/14PB on Morton Road.

To consider a petition from NSTAR Electric Company d/b/a Eversource Energy to install 1-3" conduit 45' +/- from proposed hand hold 522/HA under Phoebe Lane to customer hand hold 522/HB.

To consider a request for increased sewer flow of 3,439 gpd for a non-single family residential property to accommodate a new 110-seat restaurant located at 859 Main Street operated by 859 Main Street, LLC d/b/a Chatham Greens and Rotisserie.

May 7

To consider amending General Bylaw Chapter 100

  • Airport Approach Zone Map
  • Scrivener's Error, Correction "not"

Proposed amendments may be reviewed in Articles 39 and 40 of the 2024 Annual Town Meeting warrant.

To consider an application for a new Seasonal All Alcoholic Beverages Restaurant license for Mustard Seed LLC d/b/a CODO, 859 Main Street.

To consider a request for an amendment to the Annual Entertainment license held by OneDrop Operating LLC d/b/a Chatham Squire, 487 Main Street, to include outdoor entertainment from May to November.

All interested parties are encouraged to participate.
Town of Chatham logo featuring twin lighthouses on either side of a white house on blue backgroundenclosed in a circle

Update to Nitrogen Loading Regulations

The Board of Health recently reconsidered an amendment made to its Nitrogen Loading Regulations which took effect August 1, 2023 which restricted the ability of a homeowner to add an additional bedroom to a home with the addition of an Innovative/Alternative (IA) septic system if the home already exceeded the number of bedrooms allowable per the square footage of the lot.

In a joint meeting of the Select Board and the Board of Health held on November 14th, the Board of Health noted concerns about preserving year-round housing versus investors increasing bedroom counts in short-term rentals and the impacts of such on water usage in Town, while some in opposition to the change raised concerns of fairness to homeowners of smaller lots and countered that the addition of AI systems were beneficial to the overall water quality in the Town. 

The Board of Health agreed to reconsider the amendment and held a public hearing on further amendments on March 4th. On March 25th, the Board of Health adopted the following additional language of Section 6.2 (Variances) of the Regulations:

Notwithstanding that two-bedroom properties on lots > 10,000 sf may be allowed a 3rd bedroom upon review of the Board of Health in accordance with the requirements of sections 6.1 a, b, and c. All such variances granted may require conditions, as defined by the Board, including a deed restricting the use of te property to owner-occupied or for rental greater than 31 consecutive calendar days in length (no short-term rentals).

The March 4th public hearing may be reviewed in its entirety on Chatham TV's online video archive.

Committee Vacancies

Are you interested in helping to shape Chatham's future? Consider volunteering on one of the Town's committees! 

The Shellfish Advisory Committee (SAC) advises the Select Board on the best means to develop the shellfish potential of the Town by promoting a sustainable resource through propagation, sound management, and by supporting efforts to preserve and protect shellfish habitat. There is one vacancy on the SAC for an unfulfilled term to June 30, 2026.

The Town's Economic Development Committee's (EDC) charge is to suggest initiative to the Select Board which the Town might undertake independently or in coordination with private entities, other Cape communities, or agencies which will increase year-round economic development opportunities for Chatham citizens without creating significant adverse impacts on our community character or natural environment. The EDC has two vacancies, one to June 30, 2025 and one to June 30, 2027.

The complete list of Committee vacancies is available on the Town's website. If you would like to be considered, please fill out an application online to let us know!
Town Manager Jill Goldsmith

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.
National Prescription Drug Take Back Day April 27 at the Police Station
Chatham Friends of Trees next to a cartoon image of a fully leafed out tree

Friends of Trees Sapling Give-Away

The Chatham Friends of Trees are celebrating Arbor Day by giving away free tree saplings on Friday, April 26th and Saturday, April 27th.

Volunteers will be handing out white oak and tulip tree saplings at the Community Center, 702 Main Street, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Friday and on the front lawn of the Town Offices, 549 Main Street, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday.

Stop by either day to pick up a sapling to plant!

Next Select Board Meeting - April 23, 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. April 2, 2024

B. April 9, 2024

II. Public Announcements and Agenda Requests

III. Public Hearings

A. Consider General Bylaw Amendment; Revised Chapter 100 – Airport Approach Zone Map; Chapter 100 – Scrivener’s Error, Correction “not” (To Be Rescheduled to May 7, 2024)

IV. Public Comments on Business Agenda  

V. Business Agenda

A. Consider Use of and Sales on Town Property – Community Center; Castleberry Fairs on July 6-7, August 3-4, and September 7-8, 2024 – Terry Mullin

B. Disclosure of Appearance of Conflict of Interest / Request for Exemption Determination; Barry Greco, Shellfish Advisory Committee

C. Housing Development for 1533 Main Street and 0 Meetinghouse Road – Consider Delegation of Project Responsibilities and Authority

D. Electric Vehicle (EV) Public Charging Stations Policy

E. Appointments

1. Council on Aging Board of Directors

2. Affordable Housing Trust

3. Conservation Commission

4. Economic Development 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!


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Town of Chatham website www.chatham-ma.gov
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549 Main Street, Chatham MA 02633
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