MCI Rental/Housing Savings Opportunity

The Chatham Housing Authority is pleased to announce an opening in the MCI Rental/Housing Savings Program. The MCI Program is a five year rental-to-home ownership program that puts half of the rent paid, plus an additional $200 per month, into an escrow account. At the end of the rental period, the escrow money is then available as a down payment on a home anywhere on Cape Cod.

The available rental is a 3 bedroom house for $1600 per month, not including utilities/oil heat. Income limits by household size apply. Interested parties should attend one of two scheduled informational meetings at the Chatham Housing Authority Community Room, 240 Crowell Road on Thursday, March 16th at 6 p.m. or Saturday, March 18th at 10 a.m.

Applications may be obtained at the Chatham Housing Authority, 240 Crowell Road, Monday - Thursday, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. and Friday 9 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. or one may be mailed to you by contacting the office at 508-945-0478. Applications are also available on the Housing Authority website. For more information, email Tracy Cannon.

Community Housing Survey is available to take online.

Community Housing Survey Available

Please take a few minutes and complete Chatham's Community Housing Survey about affordable and attainable housing development scenarios at Town-owned property on Main Street, West Chatham (former Buckley property) and Meetinghouse Road, South Chatham (former Diocese of Fall River property). The survey is available through Sunday, March 12th.

If you need help or an accommodation to complete the Survey, please call Gloria McPherson at 508-945-5168.

Cod fish in a blue circle surrounded by the words County of Barnstable Massachusetts

AquiFund Launched

Barnstable County has expanded and rebranded its low interest loan program for repairs and replacements of septic systems to include loans for the installation of innovative/alternative technologies as well as sewer connections.

This expansion is in response to the growing problem of nitrogen pollution in the bays, estuaries, and ponds across Cape Cod that will require residents to upgrade or replace their current septic systems or connect to Town sewers. The program is now called AquiFund, in reference to Cape Cod’s sole source aquifer.

Barnstable County residents can apply for low-interest betterment loans for repairing or replacing failed septic systems, upgrading to alternative septic system technologies, as well as installing sewer connections.

Interest rates for new applicants will be calculated based on financial need along with additional qualifying criteria:

0% interest rate betterment loans are available to year-round homeowners with a household income less than $100,500 living in a single-family, owner-occupied, primary residence located in a nitrogen-sensitive watershed.
2% interest rate betterment loans are available to year-round homeowners with a household income less than $150,500 living in a single-family, owner-occupied, primary residence located in a nitrogen-sensitive watershed.
All other new projects are eligible for loans at 4%.

AquiFund program updates include a new loan application and management portal on the Department of Health and Environment’s website.

Register to Vote Today

The last day to register to vote in the 2023 Annual Town Meeting and Annual Town Election is Wednesday, April 26th, until 5 p.m. Don't wait until the last minute!

Online voter registration is available through the Secretary of State's website.

Man in orange vest and hard hat standing on a pipe in the ground in front of an excavator

Sewer Construction Update

For the week of March 6^th – March 10^th, C.C. Construction, Inc. will continue work on Phase 1D-2A: Route 137 – Morton Road Sewer Extension Project (1D-2A) and the Queen Anne Pumping Station (QAPS) Upgrade, and N&M Excavating LLC will continue work on the Crowell Road Phase 2 & Chatham Fish Pier Infrastructure Project.

Sewer work will continue on Middle Road. The road is closed to thru-traffic, motorists are being directed to utilize via Sam Ryder Road. Work is expected to continue on the Old Colony Rail Trail (bike path) in limited areas. The bike path will be open, and a police detail will be stationed with the construction crew. Continued site and electrical work at Pump Station #3 (Meetinghouse Road) is also expected.

Drainage work is expected to continue on Crowell Road between Tip Cart Drive and Kendrick Harvest Way. Traffic will be detoured via Main Street to Old Harbor Road to Barcliff Avenue to Crowell Road.

Roadway test pits are tentatively scheduled to be dug near the Queen Anne Road pump station site (40 Queen Anne Road; SE corner of Queen Anne Road and Oyster Pond Furlong). If work occurs, on Thursday, 3/9 and Friday, 3/10, multiple detours expected to be in place as follows, signage and police details will be in place to assist motorists:

Traffic from Absegami Run and Oyster Pond Furlong will be route through Chatham Village Market/CVS back entrance.
Queen Anne Road will be closed at the intersection of Queen Anne Road, Main Street, and Depot Road. Traffic will be routed to Main Street to the rotary.
Queen Anne Road will be closed starting at the intersection of Oyster Pond Lane, Queen Anne Road, and Adams Lane. Traffic will be routed up Adams Lane to Main Street.

Cover art for the book Buried in Treasure

Buried in Treasures Workshop

The Harwich Community Center and the Cape Cod Hoarding Task Force are co-sponsoring a 16 session workshop based on the book "Buried Treasures: Help for Compulsive Acquiring, Saving and Hoarding" by David Tolin, Randy Frost and Gail Steketee.

This free workshop will take place at the Harwich Community Center, 100 Oak Street, Harwich, on Tuesdays from 2:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. beginning on March 7th.

All who attend will receive a copy of the book and support from others while learning how to change problematic behaviors and developing strategies to de-clutter their homes.

Space is limited. Call 508-430-7568 to reserve a spot.

animal tracks in black on a white background

Tracking Webinar with Todd Kelley

The Chatham Conservation Foundation is hosting a free webinar "Tracking the Land Mammals of Cape Cod" lead by naturalist Todd Kelley on Saturday, March 11th from 10 a.m. - 11 a.m.

Learn about the art of tracking through the presentation of images of different tracks and sign from the mammals on Cape Cod for proper identification. Learn a little about the universal “science” of the track and accumulate some virtual “dirt” time in this exploration of animal behaviors and how those translate through the tracks they leave behind. You'll connect animal adaptations as well to the changing seasons along with more about their natural histories.

Registration is required.

Next Select Board Meeting - March 7, 2023 @ 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

February 21, 2023

February 28, 2023

II. Public Comments on Business Agenda

III. Business Agenda (Board Discussion Items)

A. Consider Application for New Common Victualler License; Chatham Mood; 1617 Main Street

B. 2023 Annual Town Meeting Articles Review/Votes

i. Re-Use of Structures on 127 Old Harbor Road for Affordable/Attainable Housing (Housing & Sustainability Director McPherson)

ii. Declaration to Surplus Town Property at Stepping Stones for Affordable/Attainable Housing and Place/Recommend the Article on the 2023 Annual Town Meeting Warrant (Housing & Sustainability Director McPherson)

iii. Local Option - Acceptance of MGL Ch. 40 Sec. 15A Relating to Low- and Moderate-Income Housing by Majority Vote (Housing & Sustainability Director McPherson)

iv. Bylaw Amendment– Affordable Housing Trust composition (Select Board Member Schell)

v. Bylaw Amendment - Chapter 100 Airport Approach Protection (Select Board Member Schell)

vi. Bikeways Master Plan – George Ryder Road Connector/Easement Acquisition (Principal Projects and Operations Administrator Terry Whalen)

vii. Consider Bylaw Revision to Add Consultation of Shellfish Advisory Committee to Waterways User Fee Revolving Fund- (Select Board Member Davis)

viii. Collective Bargaining Agreement Settlement (PLACEHOLDER)

ix. Prior Year Bills – Updated Article

x. National Opioid Abatement Funds

C. Coast Guard Station Chatham Status; Surf Capable Boat Policy Discussion

D. Old Mill Boatyard (OMBY) – Coast Guard Float Docks (5/11/21)

E. Committee Appointments – Zoning Board of Appeals

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