COVID-19 Update

The Town's 14 day Percent Positivity as of August 12, which includes data from July 25 through August 7, is 1.39%. For the same period Barnstable County's Percent Positivity is is 3.93% and the State-wide average is 2.69%. Percent Positivity is determined by the number of positive molecular test divided by the total number of test during the reporting period.

Tropical Storm Warning. Red square with black square inset

Tracking Henri

A Hurricane Watch is in effect for our area. Now is the time to prepare for storm surge, high winds, and heavy rain.

Refresh flashlight batteries, keep your cell phone and other devices fully charged, secure outdoor objects, renew prescriptions, and top off your vehicle's gas tank. Ensure you have adequate non-perishable food and water for your family members and pets.

If you own a boat add storm lines and clear the decks of loose objects. If you are considering hauling your boat out of the water, don't wait until the last minute as the Town ramps will become very busy. If you cannot trailer your boat, consider moving to a sheltered area.

A Storm Surge Watch is also in effect. Due to proximity to the ocean, large portions of Chatham are susceptible to coastal flooding and erosion, especially those areas located along the eastern shoreline facing Chatham Harbor and the Atlantic Ocean, as well as areas along the southern shoreline facing Nantucket Sound. Storm surge caused by high winds can also pose significant threats to interior shorelines. Astronomically high tides of 10-11 feet are expected Sunday and Monday coinciding with the storm's arrival.

In the event of flooding in your area, please observe the following safety tips:

DO NOT WALK THROUGH FLOWING WATER: Drowning is the number one cause of flood deaths. Currents can be deceptive; as little as six inches of moving water can knock you off your feet. If you must cross through standing water, look before you step and use a pole or stick to ensure the ground is solid.
DO NOT DRIVE THROUGH FLOODED AREAS: More people drown in their cars than anywhere else.
STAY AWAY FROM POWER LINES AND ELECTRICAL WIRES: The number two flood killer after drowning is electrocution. Report downed power lines to the power company or local emergency management agency.
HAVE YOUR ELECTRICITY TURNED OFF BY THE POWER COMPANY: Some appliances keep electrical charges even after they have been unplugged.
BE ALERT FOR GAS LEAKS: use a flashlight to inspect for damage, do not smoke or use candles or open flames unless you know the gas has been turned off and the area is ventilated.

Monitor local weather reports throughout the weekend and check in with the National Hurricane Center for the latest track information.

State-Wide Shellfish Closure

Due to the impending hurricane, the Division of Marine Fisheries has placed a closure on the harvest of shellfish in all Massachusetts waters, with the exception of scallop adductor muscle and the conch fishery beginning at sunrise on Sunday, August 22, 2021.

Read the entire closure notice here.

North/Nauset Beach Closing

Both the Orleans and Chatham section of North/Nauset Beach will be closed to all vehicles beginning at 9:00 p.m. Saturday, August 21, 2021.

Monitor the Town's social media accounts for re-opening notices after the storm has passed.

Reporting Utility Outages

Verizon

Access updated Verizon storm information and tips on their website.

Customers can contact Verizon at 1-800-VERIZON (1-800-837-4966) or online at www.verizon.com/outage to report any service-related issue, receive alerts and find helpful service-related FAQs.

Small business customers can visit www.verizon.com/business. Medium business and enterprise customers should contact their regular customer service centers or account teams, as needed. Enterprise customers can also access the Enterprise Center at https://enterprisecenter.verizon.com.

Eversource

Eversource customers can report an outage and check on area outages and estimated repair times, storm preparedness information and storm safety tips on the Eversource website.

National Grid

National Grid customers can report and check on area outages through the utility's Outage Reporting portal.

Festival of the Arts

The 50th Annual Festival of the Arts, sponsored by the Creative Arts Center, will be held today and Saturday from 10am-5pm at Chase Park.

The festival features 120 juried local and national artisans and craftsmen exhibitors. This premier summer arts event includes pottery, jewelry, photography, fabric, metal, stone, wood, and fine art. The Festival is family friendly with a children’s tent with painting and art activities.

Shuttle bus service is available at the Chatham Community Center, 702 Main St and at the Creative Arts Center, 154 Crowell Rd. and runs continuously. Admission is free. Food and refreshments available for purchase.

For more information call 508-945-3583 or visit the event webpage

Aerial view of shoaling along the Chatham shoreline

Coastal Resiliency Grant Awarded

The Town has been awarded an FY2022 Coastal Resilience Grant by the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs' Office of Coastal Zone Management (CZM).

The award of $107,844 will be used to evaluate the use of temporary tidal flow re-direction structures combined with beach nourishment along the Stage Harbor barrier beach and inlet system. This approach was previously identified as the preferred alternative to mitigate erosion and shoaling over the next 10-20 years.

This year's segment of the project will include design creation and gathering of feedback on the design from environmental regulatory agencies.

CZM's Coastal Resilience Grant program provides financial and technical assistance for local efforts to analyze vulnerabilities to climate impacts, increase community awareness and understanding of these issues, plan for changing conditions, redesign vulnerable community facilities and infrastructure, and restore shoreline systems.

Next Select Board Meeting - August 24, 2021

Join the meeting on-line.

I. Minutes

August 10, 2021

II.         Public Announcements and Agenda Item Requests

III.        New Business

1. Corona virus (COVID-19) Update/(Action Items?) (Director of Natural Resources Dr. Robert Duncanson and Town Manager Jill Goldsmith)
2. Rte. 28/West Chatham Roadway Project Update – Punch List Items for MDOT/Contractor (Tom Temple)
3. Public Comments on Business Agenda
4. Business Agenda (Board Discussion Items)

a. Special One Day Alcohol License; Creative Arts Center, September 12, 2021, 4 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.
b. Quarterly Update from Chamber of Commerce and Merchant’s Association (Mary Cavanaugh & Susan Dimm) + Request from the Chatham Chamber Beautification Committee
c. Chatham/Harwich Wastewater Inter-Municipal Agreement (IMA) Update and Consider Amendments (Chatham/Harwich IMA Advisory Board -Dr. Robert Duncanson)
d. Food Truck Regulations Status Update/Refresher; Plans for Public Forum
e. Process of sending Town Meeting approved articles for Home Rule Petitions/Special Legislation to Legislators (DN 7/13/21)
f. Consider Calling a Fall Special Town Meeting
g. Committee Appointments

IV. Executive Session - MGL Chapter 30A, §21 #3
To discuss strategy regarding pending and threatened litigation, specifically, (1) Town joinder in Multi District PFAAS Litigation and (2) Sciaba Construction Fish Pier Contract Claims and the Chair declares that an Open Meeting would be detrimental to the litigating position of the body.

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