Chatham Police Department Autism Awareness Month Patch

April is Autism Awareness Month

April is Autism Awareness Month, and Saturday, April 02, 2022 is World Autism Awareness Day.

This April, you will see Chatham Police Officers wearing commemorative patches to support this cause.
Over the past several years, a majority of our officers have received specialized training in Autism awareness.

We encourage you to join us on April 02, to “Light It Up Blue”. When landmarks, buildings, homes and people (by wearing something blue), recognize and support those with autism and those who love and support them.

Oil spill in water contained by orange float line

Oil Spill Response Training Exercise

The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) is sponsoring a full-scale oil spill First Responder Training and Geographic Response Strategy Testing Exercise in Chatham on April 5, 2022.

During the exercise parking and access may be limited at the Harbormaster Facility at Old Mill Boatyard (OMBY).

Through the Commonwealth’s Marine Oil Spill Prevention and Response Program, MassDEP has pre-positioned oil spill response trailers in 70 coastal communities, including Chatham and Harwich, and developed Geographic Response Strategies (GRSs) that identify sensitive areas to protect in the event of an oil spill.

The following agencies will be involved in this training: MassDEP, Chatham Fire Department, Harwich Fire Department, Chatham Harbormaster, Harwich Harbormaster, Massachusetts Department of Fire Services (DFS), Mass Maritime Academy (MMA), U.S Coast Guard, and MassDEP contractors Nuka Research and Moran Environmental Recovery. The Chatham Fire Department, Sandwich Fire Department, Joint Base Cape Cod Fire Department, and MMA Drone Teams will also be participating in the exercise.

The classroom portion introduces participants to GRSs, booming tactics, Incident Command and Control, and Spill Management and Safety procedures. Following the classroom portion, attendees are familiarized with the utilization of the oil spill equipment in the MassDEP oil spill trailer.

The final phase of the exercise will take place in Stage Harbor in the vicinity of the Chatham Harbormaster’s dock. Once the boom deployment has been completed, an oil surrogate (peat moss) will be released to test the effectiveness of the GRS tactic. First responders will also boom around a vessel at a mooring and at a dock.

COA program The Good the Bad and the Bugly program April 7 at 10:30 a.m. on Zoom. Call 508-945-5190 for reservation.

SAVE THE DATES - Annual Town Meeting & Election

Annual Town Meeting will be held on Saturday, May 14, 2022 at 1:00 p.m. in the Monomoy Middle School Gymnasium, 425 Crowell Road. Get there early for a good seat! Annual Town Election will be held at the Community Center on Thursday, May 19, 2022. Polls will be open 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Childcare will be available by reservation. Drop off begins at 12:30 p.m. in the Middle School Library. Please email Susan Mabile with your name, address, contact phone number, your child’s name, age and any medical issues no later than 12 noon on Friday, May 13, 2022.

The last day to register to vote is Friday, April 22, 2022 at the Town Clerk's Office, 549 Main Street, until 8:00 p.m.

Green four leaf clover with "4-H" in white on each leaf

4-H Career Exploration Series

Do you know a student who is interested in tracking storms? Ever wonder who monitors the impact of storms on coastlines? Or who educates others on how to prepare and respond to a storm's impact?

Two Cape Cod Cooperative Extension members will answer those questions and more on Wednesday, April 6th at 7 p.m. as part of the Umass 4-H Career Exploration Series.

The Zoom session features Shannon Hulst, Deputy Director of he Extension & Floodplain Specialist, and Coastal Process Specialist Gregory Berman. The two will discuss their roles and responsibilities at the Extension, how they wound up working in their profession, and the job opportunities they see in the future for those interested in the field.

The program is open to all and registration is required.

Gold Circles on white background with "Cape Cod Commission" below

Survey Confirms Suspicions

The Cape Cod Commission in conjunction with the Donahue Institute at UMass Amherst and the Center for Public Opinion at UMass Lowell conducted a survey of second homeowners to determine if they were spending more time here on the Cape due to the pandemic and the results are in.

A random sample of 20,000 second homeowners were invited to respond to an online survey; 924 homeowners completed the survey.

The average age of respondents was 66, up from 65 in 2017 and 60 in 2008. Second homeowners cited access to the coast, the Cape’s historic character, environmental quality, and outdoor recreational activities as key factors that led to the decision to buy a home here.

Overall, personal use of second homes appears to have increased. Forty-four percent of respondents, many of whom live in Massachusetts, said that they used their property more during the COVID-19 pandemic. Many respondents who live outside Massachusetts said the pandemic did not change the use of their home.

Fifty-two percent (52%) of respondents were retired, while 46% were employed at the time of the survey. Employed second homeowners were working remotely and in hybrid situations at high rates during the pandemic. However, less than half of employed respondents said they planned to move permanently to Cape Cod. Among those who did, only 9 percent intended to work full-time, in contrast to over two-thirds who intended to retire.

Detailed results and further information can be found by the Commission's website.

April Donation Drive for Animal Rescue League

Broad Reach Healthcare is celebrating our furry friends throughout the month of April with a donation drive to benefit the Animal Rescue League's Brewster branch.

Items on the wish list include dog & cat toys, leashes, cat scratching posts and pads, dog & cat beds, food bowls, cat litter, canned dog & cat food, paper towels, and gift cards to Petco, Stop & Shop or Petsmart.

Donations may be left in the lobbies of Liberty Commons, The Victorian, and Broad Reach Hospice.

Next Select Board Meeting - April 5, 2022 @ 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 134 208 476#.

I. Minutes

March 22, 2022

II. Public Announcements and Agenda Item Requests

III. New Business

A. Public Comments on Business Agenda

B. Business Agenda (Board Discussion Items)

1. Drinking Water Testing and Pumping Update (Public Works Director Tom Temple)

2. Public Comments on Business Agenda

3. Business Agenda (Board Discussion Items)

a. Consider Applications for Special One Day Alcohol Permits/Alcohol on Town Property; Community Center & Oyster Pond Beach Picnic Area; Monomoy Yacht Club (Denise Murphy)

b. Consider Requests for One Day Entertainment Permit; Sales on Town Property; Witches on Water Event; October 1, 2022; Oyster Pond (Jo-Ellen Erickson)

c. Consider Request for Sale on Town Property; Chatham Garden Club; Plant Sale; Community Center Lawn (Donna Maiocca)

d. Mill Hill Road – No Parking Signage and Guard Rail Installation – Traffic Safety Committee Recommendation (Lt. Andrew Goodard)

e. Mobile Food Vending Regulations; Consider Policy Decisions

f. Open Meeting Law Complaint for Meeting of March 8, 2022 – Received March 25, 2022

IV. Executive Session – MGL Chapter 39, §23B #3

To discuss pending litigation and the Chair declares that such discussion may have a detrimental effect on the negotiating and litigating position of the governmental body with no return to Open Session (Town of Chatham v. Chatham Sergeants & Patrol Officers Union, MCOP Local 294)

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