Happy Retirement Harbormaster Smith!

If you see Harbormaster Stuart Smith around Town in the next week, please take a minute to wish him the best in his retirement after 39 years serving the Town of Chatham and the commercial and recreational fleets. Stuart's last day on the job is Friday, March 29th!

Please join us in thanking him for his tireless service to our community! Congratulations!

Scan or click here to access the survey!

Housing Production Plan Survey

The Town of Chatham, along with housing consultants JM Goldson, have issued an online housing survey to gather community feedback and perspectives on Chatham’s housing availability, affordability, and needs for the development of a comprehensive Housing Needs Assessment and update to the Town’s Housing Production Plan.

The survey, which is available through Sunday April 14, provides an opportunity for the Chatham community to provide feedback directly to questions on our housing issues and challenges, and about the community’s needs and desires for affordable and attainable housing in Chatham.

The public can access the survey at https://tinyurl.com/ChathamHPP or through the Housing page on the Town’s website. The survey should take approximately 10 minutes to complete.

Following the closure of the online survey, housing consultants JM Goldson will develop a comprehensive Housing Needs Assessment based upon community feedback received from the survey as well as that from the Community Housing Visioning Forum of March 20. The resulting Housing Needs Assessment will be presented at a future meeting of the Affordable Housing Trust, date to be determined, and will form the basis for the Housing Production Plan update and its goals and actions.

Blue sign for the Center for Active Living

In Case You Missed It

CFAL Feasibility Study

If you were unable to participate in the joint meeting of the Select Board and the Council on Aging Board of Directors on Monday, March 18, you are encouraged to review the meeting through the Chatham TV meeting archive.

The presentation by Catalyst Architects proposed several scenarios in which the current Center for Active Living, 193 Stony Hill Road, could be renovated, upgraded and/or added to, in order to make it into a functional space for the programs and services offered by the Council on Aging and to potentially house an adult day care program.

There will be further discussions of this feasibility study and next steps over the next few months - watch this space for updates and advance notice of public meetings on the topic.

Seafaring Stories, Episode 3

Captain Kelsie Linnell recently visited the Center for Active Living to present the third edition of Seafaring Stories.

Captain Linnell shared her experiences being part of a local fishing family from an early age to her current work out of New Bedford on the offshore wind farm projects.

Check out the full video on Chatham TV's YouTube channel and while you are there check out the first two episodes of Seafaring Stories featuring Captains Sam Linnell and Dick Hosmer.

Person in orange safety vest standing on a pipe in the ground in front of an excavator

Sewer Construction Update

March 25^th – March 29^th:

Site work will continue at Pump Station #3 (Meetinghouse Road) and Pump Station #4 (Twine Field Drive) is expected.

Site work will continue at Queen Anne Road pump station site (40 Queen Anne Road; south side of Queen Anne Road and Oyster Pond Furlong intersection).

Continued site work is expected at the pumping station site at Old Mill Boat Yard/Harbormasters Garage and continued sewer work on Stage Harbor Road. Testing of sewer may occur on Atwood Lane, Honeysuckle Lane, and Cedar Swamp Lane; homes will still be accessible.

For public safety reasons, Stage Harbor Road between the Harbormaster’s Garage and Bridge Street will be closed and a detour will be in place.

Detour route will be from Bridge Street North to Stage Harbor Road, to Cedar Street, to Champlain Road.
Detour route from Champlain Road to Cedar Street to Stage Harbor Road to Bridge Street.

Thank you for your patience as this work is completed.

Book &Media Swap April 27 & 28 at the Town Office Annex

Ask the Town Manager

Q: When I watch the flushing of the town fire hydrants and watch thousands of gallons of water pour into the streets - I ask, isn't there a way to save this water for future use? Is there someone, somewhere, with an ingenious idea to save this water? The water could be used for watering the town golf course, filling a pool, etc.

A: Flushing the Town’s water system is an annual undertaking that is required for the health of the system. The flushing turns over the water in the pipes and increases the chlorine residual to help eliminate bacteria. The Town did not flush the system in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and in 2021 and 2022 implemented a limited flushing program due to ground water drought conditions. Last spring we resumed our full system flushing program. One of the main reasons we flush in the spring is due to low water use due in part by our reduced population during the winter months. With such low water use in many neighborhoods, the water in the local distribution system is not circulated and can become stagnant and potentially grow bacteria.

Unfortunately, we are not aware of an effective way to capture water released from the system in this effort. Currently, it flows from the hydrants and is recharged back into the groundwater. If we were to try to capture it into an open holding tank, then pump up to a tanker truck, the cost of additional personnel, generator, pump, water truck rental, trucking, police detail, etc. will likely exceed any return on reuse of the water, in addition to seeking a place to reuse it this time of year. . Also, as previously mentioned this water may be tainted by rust and potentially bacteria from being stagnant all winter which would leave few alternatives for appropriate re-use. Safe and high quality drinking water is our top priority and we understand the value of water to Chatham and its residents. This is the primary reason we target this activity during lower usage months and at a time when groundwater recharge is at its strongest.

Do you have a question about Town government or are curious about how or why it works the way it does? Are you interested to know the status of a project? Please email your question to Shanna Nealy and we will use this space to bring the answers to you.

Chatham Town Seal with silhouette of a speaker at a podium inside it

Upcoming Public Hearings

The Select Board will hold the following public hearings during its regularly scheduled meetings beginning at 5:30 p.m. in the large meeting room at the Town Office Annex, 261 George Ryder Road.

Remote participation is available through the link in the posted agendas.

March 26

To consider a petition from NSTAR Electric Company d/b/a Eversource Energy to install 40' +/- of 1"-4" PVC conduit encased in concrete from new handhold 108/H1A at base of pole 108/1 to customer installed handhole 108/H1B on Youngs road. The installation is being requested by Eversource to provide new underground service to the customer located at 132 Barn Hill Road.

To consider a request for a new entertainment license for live and recorded music/performances for Aplaya Kitchen and Tiki Bar, 483 Main Street.

April 9

To consider a request from 859 Main Street LLC dba Chatham Greens and Rotisserie for increased sewer flow of 3,439 gpd to accommodate a new 110-seat restaurant at 589 Main Street.

Blue Lighthouse in front of red and white horizontal stripes with gold star above it

2024 Parade Theme Announced

The Chatham Independence Day Parade Committee has announced the theme of the 20224 is "Chatham, It's a Shore Thing."

This theme was selected from suggestions received from the community . It was submitted by resident Chuck Borkoski who noted that one of the Town's greatest assets is its shoreline.

Are you interested in being involved with the Parade? Consider volunteering as a Parade Marshal. Parade Marshals help keep the parade moving in a timely and orderly fashion so that the spectators and participants can enjoy the parade without lengthy gaps between entries. Keeping the parade moving helps keep spectators safe and off the parade route and makes the day more enjoyable for all. Marshals will receive and wear the same colorful shirts and hats worn by Chatham IDPC members and walk alongside the parade entries as they pass through town. If you are 16 or older and have an interest in working as a Parade Marshal, please submit your contact information here. .

Next Select Board Meeting - March 26, 2024 @ 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

A. March 18, 2024

II. Public Announcements and Agenda Requests

III. Public Hearings

A. Utility Hearing; Install 40’ +/- of 1” – 4” PVC Conduit Encased in Concrete from New Handhold 108/H1A at Base of Pol 108/1 to Customer Installed Handhole 108/H1B on Youngs Road - Eversource New England

B. Consider Application for New Entertainment License; Outdoor Live and Recorded Music; Aplaya Kitchen & Tiki Bar, 483 Main Street - Tom Deegan

IV. Public Comments on Business Agenda

V. Business Agenda

A. Consider Utility License Requests; 240 George Ryder Road and 0 Bikeway (Off of George Ryder Road) – Verizon (No Public Hearing Required)

B. Consider Committee Name Change – Railroad Museum Working Group to Railroad Museum Committee.

C. Consider Special One Day Alcohol Permits

1. Creative Arts Center at 154 Crowell Road on:

a. May 5, 2024 from 4:00 – 5:30 pm

b. June 2, 2024 from 4:00 - 5:30 pm

c. July 14, 2024 from 4:00 - 5:30 pm

d. September 8 2024 from 4:00 - 5:30 pm

e. July 28, 2024 from 6:00 - 8:30 pm

2. Chatham Historical Society at the Atwood Museum at 347 Stage Harbor Road on:

a. June 6, 2024 from 6:00 – 8:00 pm

b. June 13, 2024 from 6:00 – 8:00 pm

c. June 20, 2024 from 6:00 - 8:00 pm

d. July 25, 2024 from 6:00 - 8:00 pm

e. August 8, 2024 from 6:00 – 8:00 pm

f. August 22, 2024 from 6:00 - 8:00 pm

g. August 29, 2024 from 6:00 – 8:00 pm

h. July 11, 2024 from 6:00 – 8:00 pm

i. July 13, 2024 from 6:00 - 8:00 pm

j. July 18, 2024 from 6:00 - 8:00 pm

D. Consider Special One-Day Entertainment Licenses – Chatham Historical Society at the Atwood Museum at 347 Stage Harbor Road on:

1. June 6, 2024 from 6:00 – 8:00 pm

2. June 13, 2024 from 6:00 – 8:00 pm

3. June 20, 2024 from 6:00 - 8:00 pm

4. July 11, 2024 from 6:00 – 8:00 pm

5. August 8, 2024 from 6:30 – 8:00 pm

6. August 22, 2024 from 6:30 - 8:00 pm

7. August 29, 2024 from 6:30 – 8:00 pm

8. July 11, 2024 from 6:00 – 8:00 pm

9. July 18, 2024 from 6:00 - 8:00 pm

E. Consider Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) Between the Cape Light Compact and Town of Chatham for a Part-time Energy Manager Position Shared with the towns of Brewster, Eastham, and Orleans

F. Town Manager’s Monthly Report – February 2024

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!

Subscribe to The Mainsheet

Subscribe today to have the latest issue of The Mainsheet delivered directly to your inbox each week! Sign-up through Notify Me! by entering your email address and clicking on the envelope icon next to the "Government" subscription list.

Town of Chatham website www.chatham-ma.gov