Annual Town Meeting Tomorrow!

2022 Annual Town Meeting is tomorrow Saturday, May 14th at 1 p.m. on Veterans Field.

Warrants have been mailed to the households of all registered voters. Voters should bring their copy with them to the Meeting.

Please dress for the day's weather and bring any necessary items with you (it may be a long afternoon).

The Town’s Annual Election will be held on Thursday, May 19, 2022 at the Community Center, 702 Main Street. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

COVID-19 Update

There were 16 new cases of COVID-19 reported in Town last week which was even to the previous week. The Town's percent positivity as of May 6 for the preceding two weeks continued to climb and was the highest on Cape at 9.55%. Barnstable County's average is 7.03% and the State-wide average is 5.11% Chatham's average daily incidence rate for the same period is also the highest on Cape at 35.5 with Barnstable County's average at 28 and the State-wide average at 32.5.

Free Telehealth thru the State

The Commonwealth is offering a new telehealth service for COVID-19 treatment with paxlovid. This free services is available for individuals 18 or older who are positive for COVID-19, experiencing symptoms, and currently living in Massachusetts. This service is not for medical emergencies or for individuals who are pregnant. If you are experiencing a medical emergency like having trouble breathing, please call 9-1-1.

If you are eligible you will be prescribed paxlovid which will be shipped to you overnight.

You will need a photo or .pdf of your positive test results, a list of medications/vitamins you are taking, and a photo ID.

Testing

Barnstable County continues to offer free PCR testing at the Orleans Department of Public Works site on Tuesdays from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. Appointments are encouraged; walk-ins must arrive by 9:30 a.m.

Rendering of Eldredge Garage Property Project

Eldredge Garage Project Approval

The Historic Business District Commission approved the Eldredge Garage project at its meeting on Wednesday, May 4th. The project plan calls for the former gas station building to be demolished and replaced with a new replica building that will sit closer to the road to allow better traffic flow through the lot. The building will contain a visitor lobby and restrooms and the site will offer vehicle charging stations.

The next step in the process is for the Planning Board to review a formal Site Plan. An appropriation for final design and construction including site work for this project is sought under 2022 ATM Article 27.

cell phone propped in sand displaying the Town of Chatham website

2021 Annual Town Reports Available

The 2021 Annual Town Report is now available electronically on the Town website.

Hard copies of the Report which contains financial reports, Annual Town Meeting and Election minutes and results, and reports from Town Departments, Boards, Commissions, and Committees for activities during 2021 calendar year are available at the Community Center, Town Office Annex, and Eldredge Public Library.

Large white tank mounted on a concrete pad.

PFAS Treatment of Well 5

The large treatment vessel that will hold granular activated charcoal (GAC) for the removal of PFAS from Well #5 arrived on site this week.

Piping connections between the vessel, Well #5, and distribution system are underway. The GAc will be installed next. Testing of the system and treated water will follow in the coming weeks.

Amy Burrow seated in chair wearing a white sweater

Assistant Town Clerk Appointed

Amy Burrow has been appointed as our new Assistant Town Clerk. She began work on May 4th and is currently working with Town Clerk Julie Smith at the Community Center while the Town Offices at 549 Main Street are undergoing repair.

Ms. Burrow has an Associate's Degree from Cape Cod Community College and her Paralegal Certificate from the National Academy of Paralegal Studies. She has been a paralegal for over 25 years. He primary focus for many of those years was family law. Most recently she worked for a firm in Orleans which focused on civil litigation, landlord/tenant disputes, zoning, estate planning and probating of estates.

Please join us in welcoming Amy to Team Chatham!

Blue Lighthouse in front of red and white horizontal stripes

Grand Marshal Nominations Open

Chatham's Independence Day Parade Committee welcomes nominations for Grand Marshal of the 2022 Chatham Independence Day Parade.

The Grand Marshal is designated to take the lead in the processional and in the hosting of festivities. As the Grand Marshall is a position of special honor, the nominee must be a year round or summer resident of Chatham who has made significant contributions to our community.

Submit your Grand Marshall nomination today via email or through the Parade's website until June 1, 2022.

Brewster Woods Informational Meeting

Housing Assistance Corp. is holding an informational meeting on the 29 affordable rental homes for families in the Brewster Woods development on Wednesday, May 18th at 5:30 p.m. via Zoom.

This new modern community of 1,2, and 3-bedroom apartments features off-street parking, central laundry, tenant storage, on-site management and 24-hour emergency maintenance.

All units are available by lottery. The application deadline is July 1st and applications are available online or at the Housing Assistance Office, 460 West Main Street, Hyannis.

Next Rabies Vaccine Distribution

The Cape Cod & Southeast MA Rabies Task Force is scheduled to begin their next round of oral rabies vaccination (ORV) in Plymouth and Barnstable Counties the week of May 16th.

The goal of ORV is to eliminate raccoon rabies in our region. Last year, the first case of terrestrial rabies on-Cape in over 8 years was documented in Hyannis and the Task Force has spent the last year trying to prevent any potential for spread to the rest of the Cape.

The vaccinated bait is distributed by hand from vehicles and small helicopters.

Next Select Board Meeting - May 17, 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. Public Announcements and Agenda Item Requests

II. New Business

A. Public Hearings

a. Change of Manager to All Alcohol Beverages Restaurant License; Branches Grill and Café LLC dba Branches Grill and Café from Tamara Beale to Ian Burt

b. Change of Category to All Alcoholic Beverages Restaurant License; Backpack Forever LLC dba Mom & Pop’s, from Wine & Malt Beverages Only to All Alcoholic Beverages

B. Public Comments on Business Agenda

C. Business Agenda (Board Discussion Items)

a. Mobile Food Vending Regulations; Second Reading/Approval (Shanna Nealy)

b. 2022 Annual Town Meeting – Review/Discussion/Follow-up Items

i. Vote to Transmit Home Rule Petitioned Articles to Legislature

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