Presidents' Day Closures

Chatham Town Offices, the Community Center, and the Center for Active Living will be closed on Monday, February 16th in recognition of Presidents’ Day.

The Transfer Station will be open regular operating hours.

American flag flying at half-staff against blue sky

Half-Staff Notification

Please be advised that Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey has ordered that the United States of America flag and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts flag be lowered to half-staff from sunrise until sunset on Sunday, February 15, 2026, the day of interment, in honor of United States Army Staff Sergeant Robert Russell Arnold of Boston, Massachusetts.

This gubernatorial order applies to:

The main or administration building of each public institution of the Commonwealth, e.g. town and city halls
Other state-owned or state-controlled buildings
All state military installations

Two fishing boats on moorings in a harbor one in clear water and the other surrounded by ice

County Support for Icebreaking

On Wednesday, February 11th, the Barnstable County Commissioners voted to propose an emergency ordinance to appropriate $50,000 for icebreaking operations. The Commissioners took this action after hearing from County Dredge Director Ken Cirillo on the urgent need in Cape harbors where thick ice has restricted commercial fishing activity, impeded emergency access, caused damage to municipal and private docks, and have delayed the County’s dredging operations.

The Assembly of Delegates ratified the ordinance in an emergency meeting held on Thursday, February 12th.

The County has contracted with a private tug company and is working in conjunction with the Coast Guard to break ice in priority harbors with operations already underway.

Thank you to State Senator Julian Cyr for his leadership on this effort.

Woman wearing glasses standing in front of a door

Welcome Aboard

Town Manager Jill R. Goldsmith has appointed Adrienne Barnard as Chatham’s newest Department of Public Works (DPW) Department Assistant – Cemetery Division, reporting to Director of Public Works, Rob Faley. Adrienne began her employment on Monday, February 9th.

Adrienne comes to the Town of Chatham from banking and office management roles over the past ten years on Cape Cod. She is experienced in office administration, record keeping and document management, project management and strong customer relations skills. She displays professionalism and empathy for the population she will serve.

Please join us in welcoming Adrienne to Team Chatham!

Nomination Papers Available

On Thursday, May 14th, Chatham voters will head to the polls to elect:

One Select Board Member
One Housing Authority Member
Two Monomoy Regional School District Committee Members

Nomination papers to be a candidate for any of these positions in the 2026 Annual Town Election are available from the Town Clerk’s office and must be returned by Thursday, March 26th.

Candidates should obtain at least 55 signatures and street addresses (no post office boxes) from Chatham registered voters. A minimum of 41 signatures are required for certification, but the Town Clerk recommends additional signatures are obtained as too often signatures are of individuals registered to vote elsewhere, do not list a correct voting address, or are not legible.

Four photographs arranged on a white wall.

Employee Art Showcase Artist Reception

Chatham’s Employee Engagement and Recognition Committee invites community members to attend the 2nd Annual Employee Art Showcase Artist Reception on Thursday, February 26th from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the Center for Active Living, 193 Stony Hill Road. You’ll have the opportunity to meet the artists, enjoy light refreshments, and purchase any of the pieces available for sale.

The works of six Team Chatham members are on display throughout the CFAL. If you are unable to attend the reception you can tour the installation during normal business hours, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday., through the 26th.

Chatham Recreation and Beaches Division recruiting Jr. Lifeguards

Select Board seated at the dais in the large meeting room

Select Board Meeting – February 10th

The Select Board reviewed the proposed FY2027 Operating Budget for the General Government and voted to place an article on the 2026 Annual Town Meeting warrant to purchase Munis/Tyler Financial Software package. The proposed FY2027 Operating Budget for Community and Economic Development (Chamber of Commerce) was reviewed.

The Board voted to refer a Protective “Zoning” Bylaw Amendment regarding Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) to the Planning Board for a required public hearing.

The Board voted to place and recommend several articles on the 2026 Annual Town Meeting warrant.

The Board revisited its vote of February 3rd to endorse the new route for the Fourth of July Parade as recommended by the Independence Day Parade Committee and the Chief of Police. After hearing from members of the public, the Board voted to retain the current parade route for one year and conduct public discussions about future changes. The parking restrictions along the parade route approved at the February 3rd meeting will remain.

The Board granted a Special One-Day Alcohol License for wine & malt beverages only to Dre Towey for a jazz brunch at Hey Joe & Jam, 16 Seaquanset Road, West Chatham on Sunday, March 8, 2026.

The Board granted a Junk Dealer/Collector License for Road Show Concepts, LLC d/b/a The Heartland Road Show for an event to be held at the Wayside Inn.

The Board received a presentation on the Stepping Stones Road Housing Development (Ownership) Proposal from the Housing Assistance Corporation (HAC). The proposal includes a mix of one-, two-, and three-bedroom homes for ownership. Town Manager Jill R. Goldsmith thanked the proposal evaluation team and the Board voted to affirm the Town Manager’s award of Development Rights to HAC for the property.

The Board approved increases to non-resident beach fees for daily ($30), weekly ($90), and seasonal ($190) passes.

The Board approved an amended charge for the Open Space Committee.

The public is encouraged to watch the meeting in its entirety through Chatham TV’s on-demand archive.

Mindful Eating in a white cloud in a blue sky

Wellness Weekly

If you have ever found yourself unexpectedly at the bottom of a bag of chips, you may have experienced mindless eating. Let’s look at the healthier practice of mindful eating.

Mindful eating prioritizes how you experience food—how food tastes, smells, and feels. Instead of watching TV or scrolling through your phone, mindful eating asks you to put away distractions and pay attention to the act of eating itself.

Mindful eating helps you become more in tune with how food makes you feel and the types of foods you choose to eat. It can also rebuild your relationship with food and reframe negative thoughts about food. Fuel your mind on how to best fuel your body at https://lowercape.crediblemind.com/topics/mindful-eating.

Lower & Outer Cape Credible Mind is a free, confidential wellness for our community.

Town seal with a silhouette of a speaker at a podium in the center

Upcoming Public Hearings

The Select Board will hold the following public hearings during their regularly scheduled meetings on Tuesdays, beginning at 5:00 p.m., in the large meeting room at the Town Office Annex, 261 George Ryder Road.

February 24, 2026

To consider an application to change the DBA of Uncle Tony’s LLC from d/b/a Knot’s Landing Bar & Grill to d/b/a TK’s Sports Bar for the business located at 1077 Main Street, Chatham.

March 3, 2026

To consider increases to the current list of Town of Chatham Transfer Station fees as follows:

9-11 bags of garbage, increase from $15 to $20
Commercial Garbage, increase from $90/T to $150/T
Commercial Single Stream Recycling, increase from $110/T to $145/T
Chair (upholstered), increase from $5/ea. to $15/ea.
Demolition/Construction Debris, increase from $190/T to $225/T
Mattresses & Box Springs, increase from $30/ea. to $50/ea.
Sofa, increase from $15/ea. to $30/ea.
Large / Truck Tires, increase from $15/ea. to $20/ea.
Fire Extinguishers, increase from $2/ea. to $6/ea.

And to consider establishing a new category of Transfer Station Fees:

Crib Mattresses, establish this item and charge $10/ea.

All interested parties are encouraged to attend in-person or through the link in the posted agenda.

Upcoming programs at the Center for Active Living

black key with a white house shaped tag on an orange background

Affordable Housing Opportunities

West Harwich

The Housing Assistance Corporation is offering three new construction year-round rental apartments in West Harwich by lottery. The units are located at 5 Bells Neck Road in the historic West Harwich Schoolhouse originally built in 1871 and converted to year-round apartments in 2025.

Two of the apartments are one-bedroom units and the third is a two-bedroom unit. Features include an electric heat pump, central air conditioning, and laundry facilities are available.

The apartments will be rented to eligible applicants whose income does not exceed 80% of Area Mean Income (AMI). Applications are due by 5 p.m. on Friday, February 20th.

Bourne, Brewster, Falmouth

Habitat for Humanity of Cape Cod is accepting applications for a three-bedroom home at 26 Horne Avenue in Bourne; one two-bedroom home and one three-bedroom home on Mackie Drive in Brewster; and four three-bedroom homes at 805 Gifford Street Extension in Falmouth.

Applicants for Habitat Homes must be willing to complete the required “sweat equity” on their home and other Habitat projects (500 hours for a two-adult household – 250 hours for a one-adult household), able to make housing payments of approximately $1,562 – $2,071 per month, unable to qualify for conventional mortgage financing of a market-rate house, be a first-time home buyer (some exceptions apply; described in application packet), and a U.S. Citizen or Permanent Resident.

Deadline for applications is Tuesday, March 31st. Applicants are strongly urged to attend one of several virtual and in-person workshops that are offered in February and March.

Application package and workshop dates are available on Habitat’s website.

Green cattail reed on a beige background

Conservation Foundation Webinar

The Chatham Conservation Foundation is offering a free webinar on Saturday, February 21st from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. on the ongoing white shark research project conducted and funded by the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy.

The featured speaker is Kristen Smith, Atlantic White Shark Conservancy. Registration is required.

PLEASE NOTE EARLY START TIME

Next Select Board Meeting - February 17, 2026 @ 4:00 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. Executive Session – MGL CH. 30A, §21(2) – To conduct strategy sessions in preparation for negotiations with nonunion personnel or to conduct collective bargaining sessions or contract negotiations with nonunion personnel (Town Manager) and that the Chair declares that an open meeting would have a detrimental effect on the bargaining position of the Town with a Return to Open Session

II. Minutes

A. February 3, 2026

III. Public Announcements and Agenda Item Requests

IV. Public Hearing

V. Consent Agenda

A. Consider Acceptance of Memorial Bench Donation at Seaside Links Golf Course

B. Consider Acceptance of Evergreen Tree Donation at the Chatham Fish Pier; Chatham Garden Club

C. Consider Sales on Town Property; Fishing Vessel (F/V) Lilly Jean Fundraiser on February 26, 2026 at 702 Main Street, Chatham (Community Center)

VI. Public Comments on Business Agenda

VII. Business Agenda

A. Consider Town Manager’s Administrative Order No. 6 Filing: Re-Establishment of the Assistant Town Manager and Appointment (Select Board Agenda Item Request by Clerk S. Smith 2/5/26)

B. Finance Committee Preliminary FY2027 Budget Recommendations

C. FY2027 Budget Review

i. Community Services

1. Council on Aging

2. Recreation and Beaches

3. Human Services

ii. Vote to Place and Recommend Annual Town Meeting Article

1. Childcare Voucher Program Article

D. Vote to Place and Recommend Articles

i. Fix Salaries – Elected Officials (Continued from 2/10/2026)

ii. Capital Project Article – Expansion and Renovation of the Existing Center for Active Living (CFAL) and Ballot Question 1

iii. Floor Treatment Replacements Municipal Buildings (Community Center, Town Hall, & Police Station)

iv. PEG (Public/Education/Government) Cable Access Fund

v. Stabilization Trust Fund Appropriation

vi. Expendable Trust Fund for Retirement

vii. Grant Match Fund (NEW)

viii. Sewer Capital Transfer from Wastewater Capital Stabilization Fund

E. Lease-to-Locals Program (Select Board Agenda Item Request by Member S. Davis, Continued from 10/14/2025)

F. Chatham Homeownership Opportunity Program (CHOP) House Deed Restrictions (Select Board Agenda Item Request by Member S. Davis 2/20/2024, 7/8/2025)

G. Discussion on the reported August 19/20 Power Surge and Consideration of Letter to Eversource (Committee Agenda Request by the Energy and Climate Action Committee 10/21/2025)

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

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