Our Storm Response Continues

While regional shelters closed at 1:00 p.m. today and Town facilities have returned to normal operations, our response to the historic winter storm continues.

Eversource has restored power to 99%+ of Chatham customers. There are still small count outages and services pulled off from individual homes/businesses.

If you are still experiencing a utility outage, whether electricity or internet, please contact your provider to report your individual outage.

Our Department of Public Works (DPW) continues clean-up efforts pushing back snowbanks, clearing snow piles from intersections to improve site distance, clearing sidewalks, and ensuring Town facilities and parking lots are cleared of snow today and tomorrow.

The DPW is in the process of assessing and documenting debris along public highways in the event the Town becomes eligible for FEMA reimbursement funds. Clean-up of debris along Town roads will begin next week. This work will likely continue over the next few months. Thank you for your patience as we continue to clean up from this storm.

We thank all the members of Team Chatham, our agency partners, and the volunteers of the Brewster-Orleans-Chatham-Harwich Community Emergency Response Team that worked throughout the storm to keep our community safe. Thanks to all of you for your cooperation and patience throughout the event as we worked through the challenges and for your assistance in reporting issues to the Emergency Operations Center, checking on your neighbors, and clearing snow away from hydrants.

Massachusetts State seal with Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency around it

MEMA Storm Damage Survey

The Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) is collecting information from residents and business owners impacted by the February 22–23 winter storm.

This survey is a critical step in determining whether Massachusetts may qualify for federal disaster assistance programs that could support individuals, homeowners, renters, and businesses. If your home or business experienced storm-related damage, power outage impacts, property loss, or other hardship, please complete the survey by March 6.

Submitting information does not guarantee assistance, but it helps the Commonwealth demonstrate the full impact of the storm and determine eligibility for potential federal recovery programs.

Residents and business owners may also complete the survey by phone by calling Mass 2-1-1 (extension 20).

Seasonal Communities Grant Award

The Department of Community Development has secured a grant in the amount of $175,000.00 from the Seasonal Communities Grant Program in support of the affordable and attainable homeownership development on Stepping Stones Road.

These funds will be used for pre-construction costs, including design, engineering, and the preparation of Comprehensive Permit (40B) application plans for the project.

Blue lighthouse with red stripes and gold stars behind it

Parade Theme Announced

The Chatham Independence Day Parade Committee has announced the theme of the 2026 Parade is “Anchored in Freedom: Timeless Tides and Traditions.” The entry, submitted by Jennifer Patterson, “celebrates the 250th anniversary of American independence while honoring the coastal heritage, enduring values, and guided by timeless tides and traditions that continue to shape our town today.”

Parade participants will use the theme for inspiration to design their entries. Entries in the parade will not be judged for prizes if they do not incorporate the theme in their entry.

Prize categories for float entries are posted online and the entry form will be available in late March. Nominations for Parade Grand Marshal will be accepted during the months of March and April and the decision will be announced in May.

Chatham is hiring!

The Town seeks a dynamic, organized and detail-oriented individual to fill the position of part-time Principal Clerk. Under direct supervision of the Town Clerk, this position provides clerical support to the Town Clerk and the Town Clerk’s office.

This position provides customer service to the public by telephone and in-person and provides assistance to the Town Clerk’s office in carrying out daily functions, including but not limited to, receipt and processing of marriage intentions, census forms, pet licenses and responses to requests for public documents including certified copies of birth, death and marriage, updates to the Town Clerk’s website, organization and management of permanent paper records and election day and Town Meeting preparation.

Is this the job the perfect fit for you? Find out by viewing the full job description for more information regarding prerequisite experience, education, skills and abilities required to be the top candidate for this position.

Permit counter with a man purchasing a permit

Sticker Office Hours & Online Portal

Sticker sales return to the lower level of the Town Office Annex, 261 George Ryder Road, on Tuesday, March 3rd. Hours of operation in March are Tuesdays and Thursdays 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The Town has partnered with Town Hall 24/7 to provide a new online portal for ordering and paying for permits and stickers. Online sales begin on March 3rd. Once ordered, you may choose to have your permit or sticker mailed to you or picked up in person.

Resident OSV permits (beginning May 5th) and Family Shellfish Permits will now also be available through the portal.

Residents are strongly encouraged to use the online system. Mail-in options remain available. If mailing your application, please complete the appropriate form and follow the instructions provided.

2026-2027 Beach and Transfer Station stickers and Shellfish permits will be available for in-person sales at the Annex beginning Wednesday, April 1st. Resident Over Sand Vehicle (OSV) will be available beginning Tuesday, May 5th in-person and through the online portal.

Questions? Check out the FAQ’s on the Sticker Office webpage, contact the Sticker office in March on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 508-945-5180, or email stickeroffice@chatham-ma.gov.

Select Board seated at the dais in the large meeting room

Select Board Meeting – February 24th

The Select Board granted a Special One-Day Alcohol license for Wine & Malt Beverages Only for a St. Patrick’s Day dinner on March 14th at Holy Redeemer Church Hall. The Board also granted a Special One Day license for Wine & Malt Beverages Only for a Bingo Bash to benefit Monomoy Community Services (MCS) on March 21st at Three Fins Coffee Roasters and made the required approval for MCS’s annual Back2Summer hangar dance on July 3rd at Chatham Municipal Airport.

The Board appointed Peter Donovan to the Historical Commission until June 30, 2026 as an Alternate. The Board appointed Robert Salter to the South Coastal Harbor Plan Committee until June 30, 2028.

The Board heard presentations on the Monomoy Regional School District and Cape Cod Regional Technical High School budgets.

The Board voted to place several articles on the 2026 Annual Town Meeting warrant including one seeking approval of the Town for the Monomoy Regional School District to incur debt to replace the roof at the Middle School. The total cost of the project is $11,801,239 with grant eligibility of up to $3,766,302 from Massachusetts School Building Authority and another seeking the appropriation of Public Education Government (PEG) Access Funds from both Chatham and Harwich.

The Board voted to recommend articles to fund administrative costs, reserves, and projects with Community Preservation Act funds. These include, from funds designated to Housing: Stepping Stones Road Development (5-0-0) requested by the Affordable Housing Trust Fund, Assistance Resource Center (5-0-0) requested by Housing Assistance Corporation, Lower Cape Housing Initiative (5-0-0) requested by Community Development Partnership, 0 Meetinghouse Road Affordable Housing (2-3-0) requested by Pennrose,1533 Main Street Affordable Housing (2-3-0) requested by Pennrose.

From Community Preservation funds designated to Historic Preservation recommendations were voted on articles for Exterior Restoration of Historic Harbormasters Building (5-0-0), Marconi Lattice Towers Preservation & Restoration Structural Repairs (0-5-0), People’s Cemetery Restoration (5-0-0), and Mack Monument Restoration (5-0-0).

From Community Preservation funds designated to Open Space & Recreation recommendations were voted on articles for Chatham Beach Signs (5-0-0), Frost Fish Creek Restoration & Revitalization (5-0-0), Mill Pond Overlook Accessibility Trail (5-0-0), and Restoration of Kate Gould Park (5-0-0).

The Board transmitted the FY2027 Operating and Capital Budgets to the Finance Committee as required by March 1st. The Board voted to place articles to fund the FY2027 Operating and Capital Budget Articles on the 2026 Annual Town Meeting warrant and voted to recommend both unanimously 5-0-0.

Town Manager Jill Goldsmith reviewed the Monthly Report for January highlighting current projects that are out to bid, noted the issuance of the Town’s comprehensive dredging permit, and reviewed employee anniversaries for March and welcomed new hires.

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

Upcoming programming at the Center for Active Living

The Flash

The mailing of the latest edition of the Center for Active Living's monthly newsletter, The FLASH, was delayed due to the storm. You don't have to wait for it to arrive in your mailbox - read the March FLASH here!

Town seal with the 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.

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.

March 10, 2026

To consider a request from the Animal Control Officer, Diane Byers, pursuant to Town Bylaws Chapter 115, section 6(f) regarding complaints of a nuisance dog at 33 Victoria Drive and to discuss livestock compensation per Town Bylaws Chapter 115, section 6(j).

To consider a petition from Verizon New England, Inc. to install stub pole numbered P1S approximately 28 (twenty-eight) feet north of pole P1 and approximately 145 (one hundred forty-five) feet southwest of pole P18 on Morris Island Road to be located at the property address of 87 Morris Island Road. This work is necessary to support a heavily leaning pole P1 due to a large transformer bank. The new stub pole installation of P1S is to support the leaning pole as well as straightening pole P1.

To consider a petition from Verizon New England, Inc. to install one (1) new pole numbered 22/5/5 thirty six (36) feet east of existing pole numbered 22/5 and eighty (80) feet west of existing pole numbered 22/6 on Mill Pond Road and to install new conduit from the proposed pole numbered 22/5.5 southeast along Mill Pond Road approximately one hundred-eight (180) feet to new Mill Pond Road pumping station project.

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

Beach Supervisors wanted - call 774-701-0473 for information

Mark Your Calendars!

Mark your calendars for the 2026 Annual Town Meeting and Town Election!

Annual Town Meeting will be held on Monday, May 11th at 6 p.m. at the Monomoy Regional Middle School, 425 Crowell Road and the Annual Town Election will be held on Thursday, May 14th at the Community Center, 702 Main Street - polls open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

The last day for new Chatham voters to register to participate in both the Annual Town Meeting and Town Election is Friday, May 1st!

Flyer for F/V Lily Jean Game Day fundraiser

Game Day Fundraiser Rescheduled

The “Game Day” Fundraiser in support of the families of the F/V Lily Jean has been rescheduled to Wednesday, March 4th from 12 noon to 4 p.m. at the Community Center, 702 Main Street.

Participants can sign up as a team or as an individual and should bring their own game sets – chess, checkers, mahjong, etc. Entry fee is $20 per person and preregistration is strongly encouraged. Contact Vangie Collins via email or call 603-321-2260 to sign up.

There will also be a silent auction of gift baskets & certificates, artwork, and many other items. Cash, check, credit cards & Venmo will be accepted.

All proceeds will benefit the families of the F/V Lily Jean’s Captain, 5 crew members, and the NOAA Fisheries Observer who perished when the vessel sank off the coast of Gloucester on January 30th.

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.