Town Offices Closed Monday

Town Offices will be closed on Monday, April 17th in honor of Patriots Day.

Blue mussels clustered around a tan colored rock

Shellfish Closure Expanded

The MA Division of Marine Fisheries has closed all waters in SC52S (including the all the flats between South Beach and Monomoy Island) SC52N, and Pleasant Bay areas SC53-SC64 to the harvesting of all species due to the presence of Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning (PSP) toxin, also known as "Red Tide." The closures will remain in place until further notice. Please check the Shellfish Division's webpage for updates and any additional closures.

Town of Chatham Mass seal noting incorporation date of June 11, 1712

Short Term Rental Regulations

Board of Health

The Board of Health held a public hearing on April 3rd to receive public comment on draft short-term rental regulations. The Board will discuss the comments received at its meeting on Monday, April 24th at 3:00 p.m. in the Large Meeting Room at the Town Office Annex, 261 George Ryder Road.

The draft regulations are available for review on the Board of Health's webpage.

Notice of Public Hearing

Select Board

Notice is hereby given that the Chatham Select Board will hold a public hearing pursuant to Massachusetts General Law Chapter 90, Section 40C on Tuesday, April 25, 2023 at 5:30 pm in the large meeting room of the Town Office Annex, 261 George Ryder Road to consider amending General Bylaw Chapter 100 - Airport Approach Protection, Section 4 - No Obstructions Permitted.

Proposed amendments may be reviewed in Article 44 of the 2023 Annual Town Meeting warrant posted to the Town’s website – www.chatham-ma.gov - under Town Meeting Central.

All interested parties are encouraged to participate either in-person or remotely via the link in the posted agenda.

QR code for new parks & recreation website

Scan me!

Recreation & Beaches New Website

The Recreation and Beaches Division of Chatham's Community Services Department has a new website to make signing up for adult and youth recreation programs quicker and easier!

The new website was launched on Thursday and can be accessed by scanning or clicking on the QR code. In order to sign up for programs you must create a new account. Those with Fitness Room Memberships have already been entered into the new system and should check their email for more information.

If you need assistance setting up a new account call 508-945-5175, email the Division, or stop by the Community Center where a computer is available to facilitate account creation.

Town of Chatham Seasonal positions available.

Fresh asphalt on a road with a paving machine rolling it flat

Road Construction Update

For the Week of April 17-21^st:

Water infrastructure work will commence on Mill Hill Road beginning at the intersection on Meetinghouse Road. Traffic will be limited to one lane alternating travel. Sewer work will continue on Meetinghouse Road moving north from Route 28 towards Middle Road. A detour utilizing Morton Road will remain in place.

Work will continue on the Meetinghouse Road pump station.

N&M Construction recently installed drainage beneath Crowell Road near the Public Works building as part of a contract with the Town of Chatham. Under the contract warranty, to ensure the ground has been properly compacted and to allow for settlement, there is a 90-day waiting period during which the roadway is analyzed any areas for settlement. Final pavement will not be placed until that period has passed. The 90-day period ends in mid-June and it is anticipated that paving will commence on or around June 15^th. We apologize for any inconvenience while we complete construction and improve Chatham’s infrastructure

Town Meeting Central

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.

Annual Town Meeting will be held on Saturday, May 6th, beginning at 9:30 a.m. at the Monomoy Middle School Gym, 425 Crowell Road. Childcare is available for ages 3 and up with drop-offs beginning at 9 a.m. in the Middle School Library. Reservations are required and may be made by emailing Susan Mabile with the parent’s name, address, contact phone number, children’s name, age, and any medical conditions no later than 12 noon on Friday, May 5, 2023.

Annual Town Elections will be held on Thursday, May 11th at the Community Center. Polls will be open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

The Council on Aging will provide free rides to Annual Town Meeting and Annual Town Elections for community members aged 60 and up. Please call 508-945-5190 to reserve your seat.

The Town Meeting warrant will be mailed to the household of every registered voter and is available for viewing on the Town's website in Town Meeting Central.

Chatham Police Department Recruiting Community Service Officers

Earth Day & Arbor Day Activities

Chatham Friends of Trees, Chatham Conservation Foundation and St. Christopher's Earth - Honoring Faith are teaming up to celebrate Earth and Arbor Days with a full week of activities.

On Earth Day, Saturday, April 22nd join local scouts, members of the Garden Club and others for a Conservation Land Roadside Clean-up. Bags, gloves and trash grabbers will be provided to participants. Meet at the Mayo House, 540 Main Street, at 9 a.m. for assignment.

On Sunday April 23 the Friends of Sylvan Gardens will lead a guided stroll through the Conservation Area to observe native trees, shrubs, and the thousands of daffodils in bloom at 1 p.m. Meet at the Sylvan Gardens entrance on Old Main Street. Parking is limited, so please consider carpooling.

On Arbor Day, Friday April 28 and Saturday, April 29th stop by the Community Center between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. pick-up a free native oak tree seedling and plant a tree for Arbor Day.

For a complete listing of all activities throughout the week please visit the Chatham Conservation Foundation's website.

White lighthouse with red roofed lightkeepers cottage to the left with Cape Light Compact in black letters above the cottage

Cape Light Compact 4th Q Report

Cape Light Compact (CLC) has released its latest quarterly Energy Efficiency Report for Chatham.

In the 4th quarter of 2022 293 residents and businesses participated in CLC's Energy Efficiency program and $315,702 in incentives were distributed resulting in 192,599 kWh of energy saved and 87 short tons of CO2 emissions prevented.

Nor is a great time to schedule your home or business energy assessment and take advantage of incentives and available rebates before the summer heat drives your energy bills higher. Visit Cape Light Compact's website for more information or call 1-800-797-6699 to sign up.

Next Select Board Meeting - April 18, 2023 @ 5:30 p.m.

REMOTE PARTICIPATION ONLY

All are welcome to 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.

Join the meeting on-line or participate by phone by dialing 1-508-945-4410 and entering Conference ID 203 386 491#.

I. Minutes

April 11, 2023

II. Public Announcements and Agenda Item Requests

III. Public Comments on Business Agenda

IV. Business Agenda (Board Discussion Items)

A. Proclamation; Arbor Day (Friends of Trees)

B. Consider Requests for Permanent Signs on Town Property; Chase Park (Friends of Trees)

C. Consider Requests for One Day Entertainment License & Sales on Town Property; October 7, 2023 at Oyster Pond Beach; Witches on the Water Fundraiser (Jo-Ellen Erickson)

D. Consider Request for One Day Special Permit for Wine and Malt Beverages Only; Cape Cod Commercial Fishermen’s Alliance, 1566 Main Street, April 26, 2023, 5-7 p.m. (Jenn Allard)

E. Consider Request for New Common Victualler License; Sears Point Inc. dba Emma Belle’s Café, 69 Crowell Road (Shane Coughlin)

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