Cartoon of audience with with speech bubble and megaphone above

Community Engagement on Housing

The Town, along with Barrett Planning Group, will hold the first of three community engagement meetings to look at affordable and attainable housing development scenarios on the recently purchased properties at 1533 Main Street (formerly the Buckley Property) and 0 Meetinghouse Road.

Members of the Chatham community are invited to participate in the first Community Engagement Meeting on Wednesday, December 14^th, at 5:00 pm, at the Town Office Annex, 261 George Ryder Road. This meeting will also allow for remote participation, and a Teams link will be available on the Town’s website.

This meeting will launch an inclusive community visioning process led by the Town and Barrett Planning Group to guide the direction of the types and style of housing and housing density to consider for the two sites. The Meetinghouse Road site, purchased exclusively with Affordable Housing Trust funds, will have affordable housing, while the former Buckley Property will have a combination of both affordable and attainable housing.

The consultants will facilitate the December 14^th meeting to provide information on housing development issues and opportunities within the framework of the Chatham Housing Production Plan goals and strategies, and to solicit input from residents about feasible future development on each of the two properties. Additional feedback will be solicited through an online visual preference survey in January, 2023.

Based on input from this first community meeting and the January survey, landscape architects Dodson & Flinker will prepare draft design concepts for both sites. These preliminary sketches will be presented to the community during a second community meeting in February, date to be announced. Participants will have the opportunity to provide feedback on the design concepts at this time, and revised sketches will be shared at the third and final meeting of this process, date to be announced. The design concepts for each site will ultimately inform Requests for Proposals (RFPs) for future development in keeping with a grounded, feasible community vision for each site.

Free COVID-19 Test Kits Available

Holiday gatherings are ramping up and COVID-19 may be in attendance, again. Keep your friends and family safe by taking a self-test before joining them to celebrate this season.

Test kits are still available for free at the Health Department, 261 George Ryder Road, Monday - Thursday, 7 a.m. - 4 p.m. and Friday, 8 a.m. - 12 noon.

Stuff a Cruiser December 3rd at Ocean State Job Lot

Santa Claus is Coming to Town!

Jolly Old Saint Nick will make his annual pre-Christmas visit to Town this Sunday, December 4th. He arrives at the Fish Pier at 1 p.m. in the historic CG36500 motor lifeboat. Due to the construction at the site he'll be coming in next to the Coast Guard vessels this year.

He'll hitch a ride with the Fire Department over to the Community Center where he will meet his fans, hand out presents, and consider requests - better get on the nice list, fast!

Stillwater Pond Cyanobacteria Advisory Lifted

The Cyanobacteria Advisory posted for Stillwater Pond on October 26th has been lifted
s of November 30th due to improved conditions. Normal use of the pond
for recreational activities may resume.

Hand holding pickleball racquet, net in background in gym

Winter Pickleball Registration Open

Registration for winter pickleball sessions is now open to residents. Non-residents can register starting December 19th.

Registration is available online or via paper form available in the Community Center lobby. The Tuesday/Thursday night program will play from 5:45 p.m. - 7:45 p.m. on Tuesdays and from 5 p.m. - 7 p.m. on Thursdays. Don't wait to sign up - spaces fill up fast!

REMINDER - the Community Center gym is closed through December 18th for repairs.

Cooking class December 7th call 508-945-5190 to register

Shotgun Season for Deer Continues

Hunting season continues with shotgun hunting for deer through December 10th.

Please use caution when walking in the woods. Blaze orange attire is recommended for you and your canine companions. Please keep your dogs leashed so they are not mistaken for game running through the brush.

Hunting is not permitted on Sundays.

New Residents

If you have recently become a year-round resident (welcome!), please contact the Assessor's Office to ensure that your status is up-to-date in our records.

"Earth Emergency" at the Orpheum Theater

The Cape Cod Climate Change Collaborative and Woodwell Climate Research Center, in association with the Chatham Climate Action Network, will present a screening of the internationally-acclaimed film “Earth Emergency” at the Orpheum Theater in Chatham on Thursday, December 8, 2022 at 7:00 PM.

“Earth Emergency” is a revealing and accessible one-hour film that examines how human activity is creating self-perpetuating “feedback loops” that are amplifying and accelerating climate change. Narrated by actor Richard Gere and featuring spiritual leader the Dalai Lama and climate activist Greta Thunberg, the film explains how warming caused by human activity is setting in motion Earth’s own natural warming mechanisms, releasing additional greenhouse gasses into the atmosphere, and further heating up the planet. Woodwell scientists were instrumental in the creation and production of the film and are featured prominently throughout.

The film will be preceded by a 6:30 PM reception in the theater lobby featuring the filmmaker Bonnie Waltch, Woodwell scientists, and climate organization representatives.

A live panel discussion and audience Q&A moderated by Heather Goldstone, Chief Communications Officer for Woodwell, will immediately follow the film. The panel will include Walch, internationally acclaimed climate scientists from the Woodwell Center, and representatives of the Cape Cod Climate Change Collaborative and Chatham Climate Action Network.

Tickets for the event may be purchased online or at the Orpheum Theater, 637 Main Street. Proceeds will benefit the nonprofit Cape Cod Climate Change Collaborative.

White pitcher filled with holly branches in and white bowl on a wooden table

Old Atwood House Hearthwarming

Celebrate the holiday season with a stop at the Atwood House Museum on Saturday, December 10th from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is free.

The hearth of the old house will be ablaze with yuletide cheer. Step back in time and enjoy the beautiful decorations while enjoying light refreshments and warm beverages in the spirit of an old-fashioned wassail.

Several galleries will be open and the Gift Shop will feature the annual Historic Hauls sale. Find that unique Chatham book or curiosity for that special someone on your holiday gift list. This is the last day the Museum will be open until May 2023.

Sound Dunes concert at Community Center December 13th at 1 p.m.

Energy Assistance Programs Available

If you or someone you know is having trouble keeping up with energy bills, there are a variety of assistance programs and payment plans available.

Fuel assistance for eligible property owners is available the Good Neighbor Energy Fund and the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program. Renters can receive assistance for past due electric bills and rent through Massachusetts' Emergency Rental Assistance Program. Visit Mass211.org or call 211 for details.

Eversource offers several programs including discounted rates, payment plans, and Budget Billing which spreads payments out over 12 months. To find the best option for your needs visit Eversource's website or call 866-861-6225.

National Grid offers similar payment assistance programs and a forgiveness program which is available to its customers on income-eligible discount rates with substantial past due accounts. Visit National Grid's website for more information.

Next Select Board Meeting - December 6, 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. Minutes
November 22, 2022

II. Public Announcements and Agenda Item Requests

III. Public Hearing

A. Consider Disbanding the North Beach Advisory Committee

IV. Drinking Water Testing and Pumping Update – Weston & Sampson Project Manager Tom Barr

V. Public Comments on Business Agenda

VI. Business Agenda (Board Discussion Items)

A. Request to Use Town Roads; Cape Cod Athletic Club’s Chatham Harbor Run 10k, June 25, 2023 & Chatham in the Fall 10k, November 19, 2023 (Howard Tansey)

B. Consider Applications for Special One Day Alcohol Permits

i. Mark August, 490 Main Street, December 9, 2022, 4 p.m. – 9 p.m.

ii. Chatham Walkers, Community Center, December 13, 2022, 5 p.m. – 8:45 p.m.

C. Update on New Electric Rates from Cape Light Compact (CLC Representative Peter Cocolis)

D. Annual Liquor License Renewals

E. Consider Requests for Temporary Closings of Establishments Holding Annual Liquor Licenses

F. Town Property at 127 Old Harbor Road – Discussion (Chair Dykens) - Director of Community Development Donovan

G. Town Manager Appointment Extension and Successor Employment Agreement

H. Committee Appointments; Summer Residents Advisory Committee, Human Services Committee

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