Voters at Annual Town Meeting holding up voting cards

Making a Difference

Dr. Florence Seldin Preschool Family Support

Thank you to the 2022 Annual Town Meeting voters for approving the appropriation of $425,000 to fund the Dr. Florence Seldin Preschool Family Support Program.

The program supports essential early childhood learning opportunities for our youngest residents. To date, seven local early childhood education providers are participating in the program which provides up to $10,000 for 4-year-old and $5,000 for 3-year-old Chatham students per school year directly to those providers.

Thirteen 4-year-olds and nine 3-year-olds are enrolled in the program. The support of these students and their families is an essential piece of the puzzle in helping to retain young families in Town and feeding students into Chatham Elementary School.

Funding is still available for this school year. If you know of a local family that may benefit from the program, please have them contact the Town Manager's Office. Confirmed residency is the only eligibility factor!

Taxes Due November 1st

Real estate and personal property taxes are due in the Treasurer/Collector's Office by 4 p.m. on Tuesday, November 1st. Payment may be mailed, brought to the Office or dropped in the tax slot to the right of the entrance at 549 Main Street.

Online payments can be made through the Town's website. The “Pay Bills Online” option opens the City Hall Systems payment portal.

As a reminder, online features through City Hall Systems include e-billing, a single shopping cart for multiple bill types, as well as giving the online user the ability to view and print original bill copies for this current or past fiscal year which will be useful when filing annual taxes. All ACH (electronic check) transactions are free of charge. Credit/debit card payments are charged 2.95% ($1 minimum) of the amount charged.

Trunk or Treat October 29 1-3 p.m. at the Brewster Baptist Church

Faith & Blue Trunk Or Treat Saturday

National Faith & Blue Weekend facilitates safer and stronger communities by engaging law enforcement officers and local residents through the connections of faith-based organizations.

Faith & Blue is based on the premise that strong communities are built through mutual respect and understanding. Law enforcement and faith institutions are key pillars of each community, and when they work together, neighborhoods thrive. The National Faith & Blue Weekend organizers represent every major national law enforcement membership and professional organization in the United States and every faith tradition. The effort is being co-convened by Movement Forward, Inc. and the USDOJ Office of Community Oriented Policing Services. Please put on your best Halloween costume and stop by and meet our fellow citizens and public safety professionals!

metal sculpture of a tree mounted on a brick wall

Eldredge Public Library Closure

The Eldredge Public Library will remain closed through Sunday, October 30th.

Unanticipated challenges were encountered by electricians making repairs and the power will remain off in the building through the weekend. Please check the Library's website for updates and the building's status for Monday.

Two red white and blue buttons with Early Voting across the middle white band

Early Voting Continues at 549 Main

In-person early voting continues next week at the Town Clerk's Office at 549 Main Street Monday through Friday, October 31st - November 4th, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

If you have elected to vote by mail completed ballots may be deposited in the Town Clerk's Dropbox, hand delivered to the Town Clerk's Office (both at 549 Main) or mailed in the provided envelope. Please remember to sign your ballot envelope! The last day to request a ballot by mail is Tuesday, November 1st.

Please call the Town Clerk's Office, 508-945-5101, with any questions.

Adult LGBTQ+ meeting on November 3 from 5-7 p.m. at the Methodist Church

Wait List and Mooring Permit Renewals Mailed

Waitlist and Mooring Permit renewals were mailed out on October 27th.

All waitlist and mooring permit renewals are due by December 31^st and may be renewed online with payment by credit card or mailed back with a check as cash payments are no longer accepted.

Prescription pill bottle on its side with pills spilling out on counter

Medication Drop Off Saturday

The Annual Unwanted/Unused Prescription Medication Drop Off takes place this Saturday, October 29th from 10 a.m. to - 2 p.m. at the Police Station, 249 George Ryder Road.

Residents are encouraged to drop off any unused, unwanted, or expired prescription medications to the lobby kiosk, located in the police station, (249 George Ryder Road). This helps the environment from these medications being flushed and released onto the water supply. It is also a safe way to remove medications that may be targets for theft or abuse. Drop off is safe and anonymous.

Cyanobacteria bloom in pond in the woods

Cyanobacteria at Stillwater Pond

On October 26th the Town was notified by the Association to Preserve Cape Cod (APCC) of a visible algal bloom in Stillwater Pond which may be a sign of elevated levels of cyanotoxins.

A public health Advisory has been issued for the Pond. Do not swim, wade, or come in contact with the water, scum, foam or algae at the Pond, and keep pets from swimming in it.

Seek medical attention if you or family members are experiencing illness after swimming or playing in the Pond. Pets may be vulnerable to adverse health effects of cyanotoxins. Contact a veterinarian if your pet shows signs of illness.

If you, your family members, or pets have experienced adverse cyanobacteria-related health effects, please contact the Chatham Health Division to report the illness.

Retesting of the pond will take place.The Town will post updated information when the Advisory is lifted or if there are any changes to the conditions of the Advisory.

Next Select Board Meeting - November 1, 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 203 386 491#.

I. Convene Affordable Housing Trust Fund Meeting – FY2024 Community Preservation Committee (CPC) Applications; Support

II. Adjourn Affordable Housing Trust Fund Meeting – Convene Select Board Meeting

III. Minutes

August 10, 2022 – Joint Meeting with Water & Sewer Advisory Committee

October 18, 2022

October 25, 2022

IV. Public Announcements and Agenda Item Requests

V. Drinking Water & Pumping Update

VI. Public Hearings

1. Utility Pole Hearing; One New Pole (P27/1.5) Cross Street at 569 Main Street

VII. Public Comments on Business Agenda

VIII. Business Agenda (Board Discussion Items)

1. Special One Day Wine & Malt Beverages Only Permits

i. Sundance Clothing, 497 Main Street, December 9, 2022, 12 noon to 10 p.m.

ii. Fisherman’s Daughter, 521 Main Street, December 9, 2022, 4 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.

iii. Ports & Company, 595 Main Street, December 9, 2022, 3 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
iv. Chatham Clothing Bar, 534 Main Street, December 9, 2022, 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.

2. Consider Letter of Comment; Eversource Five-Year Vegetation Management Plan

3. Select Board Goals & Objectives CAL2023/FY2024 (Initial Discussion) + Chatham 365 Task Force Recommendations Status

IX. Select Board Executive Session – MGL Ch 30a, §21 #2

To conduct strategy sessions in preparation for negotiations with nonunion personnel (Town Manager) with NO return to open session.

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