New Center For Active Living Moving Forward

At a special meeting on March 8th, the Select Board voted unanimously 4-0-0 to place an article on the 2023 Annual Town Meeting warrant for final design and construction of a new Center for Active Living in West Chatham on land donated to the Town by local businessman Bill Marsh at 1610 Main Street. A question to authorize the Town to borrow funds to pay for the project will also appear on the Annual Town Election ballot.

The proposed appropriation is $10,667,944 (7.5% contingency) for a 10,965 sq.ft. two-story building. While some adjustments were made to the layout to accommodate new energy code requirements and post COVID-19 considerations, it remains essentially the same as that proposed in 2021 with the exception of including Adult Day Care space within the program space.

The Select Board voted unanimously to recommend approval of the project to Annual Town Meeting which is scheduled for Saturday, May 6th beginning at 9:30 a.m. in the Monomoy Regional Middle School Gymnasium, 425 Crowell Road. The Annual Town Election will be held on Thursday, May 11th in the Community Center Gymnasium with polls open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

A man in a tan suit jacket with white shirt and red tie smiling

Meet DPW Director Rob Faley

Our newest member of Team Chatham reports to work on Monday, March 13th and we are thrilled to welcome him onboard!

Rob Faley is coming to Chatham via the State of Vermont Agency of Transportation where he began working in 2001 as Project Supervisor working on the $100 million Bennington Bypass. As Project Supervisor he was instrumental in all aspects of the project from conceptual design, right-of-way acquisition and permitting through construction. As that project neared completion he was promoted to Project Manager within the Maintenance Division (District 1) where he served as the technical advisor to the District workforce and provided safety and engineering services to support construction projects including paving, stormwater and bridge work.

Most recently he served as the Regional Administrator for Agency's Maintenance and Fleet Division where he oversaw the maintenance of highways and bridges over the southern third of the State. He was responsible for a budget of $25 million, oversaw 145 employees, and was responsible for the year-round maintenance of over 1,300 miles of State highway, 400 bridges, and 20 office/garage facilities. He also served as Incident Commander during natural disasters including several major winter storms and flooding events.

Prior to moving to Vermont, Mr. Faley worked as an Engineer for the Putnam County (New York) Department of Highways and Facilities. His primary responsibilities included surveying, design, drafting, field layout, estimating, and construction supervision. Mr. Faley was responsible for overseeing stormwater and sewer installations, road and bridge construction, paving, and building renovations, among other key projects.

Originally from Carmel, NY, Mr. Faley has dedicated his career to public service and also spent personal time serving on the Sunderland, VT Zoning Board of Appeals and Recreation Park Committee. He has vacationed on the Lower Cape for many years and is joined in his move here by his wife, daughter, and golden retriever.

Access Restrictions at Fish Pier

A new phase of of work will begin on the Fish Pier South Jog Bulkhead replacement project to reconstruct the deck and stairways at the Wharfinger Building on Saturday, March 11th.

The work will require the closure of the deck and stairways to the public and will result in the closure of access to the public restrooms at the Fish Pier. Weather permitting, this phase of the project is expected to last 6-7 weeks.

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.

EMS Captain Mark Heller in dress uniform

EMS Captain Mark Heller Retires

After 43 years of service to EMS, including nearly 20 years of service to the Chatham community, EMS Captain Mark Heller is retiring.

The Chatham Fire Department will be recognizing Captain Heller and celebrating his final days on the job with a "Last Coffee" on March 30th from 8 - 10 a.m. at the Fire Station, 135 Depot Road. All are invited to attend!

Sewer Construction Continues

Sewer construction continues to affect traffic flow in a few areas of Town.

For the week of March 13th-17th:

Middle Road will be closed to thru traffic with motorists being directed to exit via Sam Ryder Road. Work will also continue at the new pump station on Meetinghouse Road.

Drainage work will continue on Crowell Road between Stony Hill and Tip Cart. A detour will be in place as the portion of Crowell Road between Stony Hill and Tip Cart and Lake Street will be closed. Traffic will be detoured via Tip Cart to Barcliff Avenue to Old Harbor Road to Orleans Road to Stony Hill Road.

Construction on the Queen Anne Road pump station will require multiple detours on Monday, March 13th. Traffic from Absegami Run and Oyster Pond Furlong will be routed 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 and Adams Lane with traffic routed up Adams Lane to Main Street.

Plan your travel accordingly!

Chatham is hiring an outreach coordinator for the Council on Aging

Last Call for the Community Housing Survey

If you haven't already completed the Community Housing Survey, please take a few minutes and share your vision for affordable and attainable housing development at Town-owned properties at Main Street in West Chatham and Meetinghouse Road in South Chatham.

The survey is available through 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, March 12th.

You can also access the survey and the consultants' February 15th presentation on conceptual plans for the properties on the Town's Housing webpage. If you have any questions or if an accommodation is necessary to take the survey email Gloria McPherson or give her a call at 508-945-5168.

Beginner Pickleball Lessons Offered

The Recreation Division is offering beginner pickleball lessons at the end of the month!

Tuesday sessions begin on March 21st and run through April 25th and Friday sessions begin on March 24th and run through April 28th. Both sessions are held 12:15 p.m. to 2:15 p.m. and are limited to 8 participants. Registration is required. Registration may be completed online or paper forms are available in the Community Center lobby. Fee is $75 per person.

Center for Active Living offering a trip to the Cape Media Center on Friday March 17 at 10 a.m. Call 508-945-5190 for details.

Call 508-945-5190 for more details and to reserve your seat!

Two hands installing a smoke detector on a white ceiling

Red Cross "Home Fire Campaign"

According to the American Red Cross someone in this country dies in a home fire seven times a day. In response the Red Cross created the Home Fire Campaign to educate families, make homes safer, and help prevent home fires.

The Red Cross is partnering with the Chatham Fire Department and fire departments and community groups across Massachusetts to install free 10-year smoke alarms where needed and deliver home safety information to help prevent fires, and help families be prepared in the event of a home fire.

Call 1-800-564-1234 to sign up for your free installation.

Next Select Board Meeting - March 14, 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. Public Announcements and Agenda Item Requests

II. Public Comments on Business Agenda

III. Business Agenda (Board Discussion Items)

A. 251 Crowell Road (Chatham Health and Swim Club Property) – Presentation of Feasibility Study [public comments will be accepted]

B. Consider Request to Assessors to Abate Remaining Taxes; 1533 & 0 Main Street

C. 2023 Annual Town Meeting Articles Review/Votes

i. 1610 Main Street – Zone Change (Contingent on the ATM & Debt Exclusion Affirmative Votes for 1610 Main Street) Planning Board (Verbal) Recommendation (PB Mtg of 3/13/23) - (Vote to Place and Recommend)

ii. Stony Hill Property - Contingency Affordable/Attainable Housing Design; Transfer from Town’s Local Designation of Short-Term Rental Receipts for Housing (Vote to Place and Recommend)

iii. Education Assessments/Articles:

1. Cape Cod Regional Technical High School-Operational Budget/Assessment - FY2024 (Vote to Recommend)

2. Monomoy Regional School District (MRSD) Operating Budget/Assessment-FY2024 (Vote to Recommend)

iv. Monomoy Regional School District (MRSD) - Monomoy Educational Cable Access Program and Equipment Capital Appropriation Article (Vote to Place and Recommend)

v. Chatham Municipal Airport; Federal Fiscal Year (FFY) 2024 Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) Projects (Vote to Place and Recommend)

vi. Any other articles to place and/or vote (if needed)

vii. Petition Article(s) – Vote to Recommend

1. Obstruction removal in the Airport Flight Path – Reimbursements to Property Owners

2. Any other petitions received

D. Vote Ordering, Recommendations and Closing of the 2023 Annual Town Meeting Warrant for May 6, 2023

E. Committee Appointment – Aunt Lydia’s Cove Committee, Historic Business District Commission

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