Chart showing the Average Daily Incidence Rate of COVID-19 In Chatham MA

COVID-19 Update

The Town has had a total of 384 cases of COVID-19 reported since March of 2020.

Through Monday, September 20th, there have been 23 cases reported this month compared to eight cases in total reported in Town in September 2020.

Seven new cases were reported in the last week. Of those seven cases, three have been in vaccinated individuals, three in unvaccinated individuals, and the vaccination status of the other is unknown.

There has been a slight up-tick in both the Town's percent positivity rate and, as illustrated above, in our average daily incidence rate as well.

Board of Health Emergency Order

The Board of Health issued a Public Health Emergency Order on September 20, 20211 requiring face coverings be worn by anyone two years or older, whether vaccinated or unvaccinated against COVID-19, attending an indoor public meeting of any Town Board, Commission, or Committee, including Town Meeting, or any gathering of two or more persons in a Town Building meeting room, including the Community Center gym and fitness room.

Exceptions are provided for the Chair, or in the case of Town Meeting, the Moderator, to excuse, upon advance request and for good cause shown, any individual attendee's face covering requirement for medical reasons and for attendees to temporarily remove face coverings to speak to the meeting.

Hand holding a hose with watering nozzle with a diagonal red line across it

Outdoor Watering Ban Update

In response to community inquires, the Chatham Select Board, acting as Water & Sewer Commissioners, provided clarification of the ban on outdoor watering implemented last week.

Following discussion, the Board reinforced the ban applies to:

Watering of established turf (lawn), shrub, or flower gardens by irrigation systems, sprinklers, or hand watering.
Washing of vehicles, sidewalks, driveways, sidewalks, decks, houses, or outdoor furniture.
Topping off of swimming pools or hot tubs.

While outdoor water use is allowed for the following, we ask for your help to conserve our water supply whenever possible:

Watering is allowed for newly installed lawns and plantings, vegetable gardens, and the Community Garden. If a resident wants to plant a tree, consider waiting to do so as new trees require more water.
Watering mitigation plantings approved by the Conservation Commission.
Power washing of boat bottoms and flushing of engines in preparation for winter storage and washing of gear. We ask the public to delay this action for a few weeks if possible.
Water use at Town Landings and Fish Pier.

While the Town is experiencing reduced water supply capacity due to two municipal wells being off-line because of PFAS contamination the Town is asking users of municipal water to limit outdoor water use whenever possible.

Violations of this mandatory outdoor watering ban will result in the following:

First offense – Warning
Second offense - $100 fine
Third offense - $200 fine

Good quality and enough fresh drinking water are vital to the health of our community. While the ban applies only to those on the public water supply, private well owners are asked to take these measures into consideration as we all draw from the same aquifer.

Fire/Rescue Department Awarded

The Chatham Fire/Rescue Department has been awarded the American Heart Association's Mission: Life Line Silver Plus Achievement Award for implementing specific quality improvement measures to treat patients who suffer severe heart attacks.

The American Heart Association's Mission: Lifeline program helps reduce barriers to prompt treatment for heart attacks - starting when 911 is called, to EMS transport and continuing through hospital treatment and discharge. Optimal care for heart attack patients takes coordination between the individual hospital, EMS and healthcare system.

"EMTs and paramedics play a vital part in the system of care for those who have heart attacks," said Tim Henry, MD, chair of the Mission: Lifeline Acute Coronary Syndrome Subcommittee. "Since they often are the first medical point of contact, they can save precious minutes of treatment time by activating the emergency response system that alerts hospitals to an incoming heart attack patient."

EMS Captain Mark Heller said "This is the first time we have been awarded this status and it is a direct result of the work our paramedics and EMTs provide to our citizens."

Congratulations to the Fire/Rescue Department for this well deserved recognition.

Drivers Needed

The Town continues to seek qualified, customer service-oriented individuals to fill the position of intermittent Council on Aging (COA) Bus Drivers to provide door-to-door transportation for Chatham residents over the age of 60 to medical appointments, Adult Day programming, shopping and COA services.

COA Bus Drivers operate the passenger bus on pre-determined schedules; ensure the safety of all passengers by following the rules of the road; efficiently schedule routes according to COA transportation priorities and time; assist passengers on and off the bus with groceries/shopping bags if needed; inspect the vehicle before and after trips; maintain daily trip logs; and ensure vehicle cleanliness.

Starting rate of pay is $18.50 per hour for this variable hour schedule, not to exceed 19 hours per week.

For more information visit the Town's website or to apply send a cover letter and resume to jobs@chatham-ma.gov.

Aerial view of shoaling along the Chatham shoreline

Shore Protection & Shoaling Mitigation at Stage Harbor

Chatham continues to focus on coastal resiliency and impacts associated with, and exacerbated by, climate change.

The Town has been successful at receiving several coastal resiliency grants through MA Coastal Zone Management over the past few years. The grants include addressing critical navigation shoaling and shoreline erosion in the vicinity of Stage Harbor (grants in FY21 & 22), coastal vulnerability along Chatham’s east-facing shoreline (grants in FY19 & 20), and evaluation of nature-based solutions for salt marsh restoration of an important public shore access area (grants in FY 21 & 22). Chatham also continues to proactively implement a sediment management program for the beneficial reuse of dredged material associated with its active dredging program.

If you missed the presentation to the Select Board on the report "Alternatives Providing Shore Protection and Mitigation Shoaling along the Coast Fronting Stage Harbor," funded by a MA Coastal Zone Management grant and prepared by Applied Coastal Research and Engineering, Inc. and the Center for Coastal Studies, it is available on the Coastal Resources webpage.

Next Select Board Meeting

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.

Join the meeting on-line or participate by phone by dialing 1-508-945-4410 and entering Conference ID 134 208 476#.

I. Minutes
September 21, 2021

II. Public Announcements and Agenda Item Requests

III. New Business

A. Corona virus (COVID-19) Update (Health Agent Judy Giorgio and Town Manager Jill Goldsmith)(NO Drinking Water Testing and Pumping Update – No New Test Results)

B. Public Comments on Business Agenda

C. Business Agenda (Board Discussion Items)

a. Consider Bench Donation; Seaside Links – Sheila Nugent

b. Special One Day Wine & Malt Beverages Permit; Mahi Gold, 465 Main Street, Dec. 31, 2021(Continued from 9/21/21)

c. Comcast Cable TV License Renewal Vote [Alix H]

d. Annual Committee Review

1. Consider Interview/Appointment Process (CM 9/7)

2. Consider Reducing Membership of Cultural Council (CM 9/7)

3. Protocols for Public Participation at Hybrid/In-person Meetings (A. Timpson 9/21/21)

e. Vote to Close the Special Town Meeting Warrant of October 23, 2021

f. Committee Appointments

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