Assistant Town Manager Sworn InKathleen “Katie” Donovan was sworn in today as Assistant Town Manager/Director of Community Development. This promotion was effectuated on the 30th day after Town Manager Jill Goldsmith filed Administrative Order NO. 6 to re-establish the Assistant Town Manager position and appoint the Director of Community Development to that role on February 4th. Ms. Donovan effectively served as second-in-command to the Town Manager since 2021 and routinely assumed the role of Acting Town Manager during periods of absence of the Town Manager. In addition, she has led and continues to lead numerous Town-wide initiatives on behalf of the Town Manager that involve high levels of community interest and align with priority goals of the Select Board. This promotion formally recognizes duties Ms. Donovan has been performing in practice and provides organizational clarity and continuity. Her municipal experience is broad and well-rounded, encompassing planning, zoning, and inspectional services, as well as conservation and public works. This cross-departmental background has given her a strong understanding of municipal operations, regulatory processes, and interdepartmental coordination, all of which are directly relevant to the responsibilities of Assistant Town Manager. Ms. Donovan will retain her responsibilities as Director of Community Development, continuing to lead strategic initiatives related to housing, land use, parking, and permitting, while also supporting Town-wide operations in an executive capacity. Congratulations, Katie!
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Coming Soon! USCG Boathouse The Town is pleased to announce the long‑awaited return of the historic U.S. Coast Guard Boathouse to Stage Harbor sometime in the next few weeks. The exact timing of its journey back to Chatham from New Bedford is fully dependent on weather conditions and tides. The return of the Boathouse will mark a significant milestone in the development of 90 Bridge Street and the replacement of the Town’s existing shellfish upweller. Preliminary renovation work, including the removal of its floor, has been completed in preparation for full restoration on site. Once restored, it will house the Town’s new upweller, a key component of Chatham’s ongoing efforts to support shellfish propagation and maintain a healthy coastal ecosystem. “This project represents Chatham’s respect for our maritime history combined with a commitment to maintaining our working waterfront,” said Town Manager Jill R. Goldsmith. “We’re proud to bring this historic structure home and give it new life in service to the community.” Originally located on Stage Island, the Boathouse supported the Coast Guard’s lifesaving operations and once housed the motor lifeboat CG36500 that participated in the rescue of 32 crew members from the SS Pendleton in February 1952. The Boathouse itself has been rescued twice, first by developer Jay Cashman who relocated the structure to Quincy in 2009 after multiple unsuccessful attempts to find a new location for it in Chatham, and again in 2020 by a group of preservationists, spearheaded by David Doherty, who stepped in and arranged to have the building removed from the auction block, took ownership of it for safe-keeping, and renewed the effort to have it located in Chatham. Their work and the collaboration of local officials, marine contractors, and community partners have made its homecoming possible. The project has been supported by the engineering team of GEI Consultants Inc, project management by Pomroy Associates and construction & marine services by Robert B. Our Marine. The Town will share updates on the return of the Boathouse as more information becomes available.
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Welcome Aboard, Mira!Town Manager Jill R. Goldsmith has appointed Stanimira (Mira) Milkova as Chatham’s newest Assistant Assessor, under the general direction of the Director of Finance, Carrie Mazerolle and reporting to Assessing Director, Candace Cook. Mira began her employment on Monday, March 2nd. Mira joins Chatham after nearly three years as an Administrative Assistant in the Town of Eastham Finance Department. In this role, she supported Assessing, Treasurer, Human Resources and Information Technology. In Assessing, she gained experience with abatements, personal exemptions, assistance with excise taxes and abutter’s lists, preparing Assessing Board meeting agendas and minutes, and was instrumental in rolling out Eastham’s Residential (Tax) Exemption Program. Please join us in welcoming Mira to Team Chatham!
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Woody Debris Fee WaivedChatham residents may dispose of woody debris at the Chatham Transfer Station, 97 Sam Ryder Road, free of charge through Sunday, April 5, 2026. This temporary fee waiver applies only to trees and limbs damaged as a direct result of Blizzard Hernando of February 23, 2026. All material must be separated as woody debris; stumps with root balls, construction and demolition debris, and household waste will not be accepted under this waiver. Standard Transfer Station rules and regulations remain in effect. This program is limited to residential drop-offs and does not apply to commercial haulers, professional landscapers, or tree service companies. Normal disposal fees will resume for all materials beginning Monday, April 6, 2026. |
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Town Storm Communications SurveyOne of the three tenets in emergency preparedness is to stay informed. We ask our community to sign up for emergency alerts, to follow the Town’s social media accounts, and to check the Town’s website for information in case of an emergency. Last week’s storm drove home for us not only the need for individuals to take steps to receive information but for the Town to provide information in as clear, accurate, and timely manner as possible. So, we are asking for your feedback through this 10 question survey on our public communications before, during, and after Winter Storm Hernando so that we may continue doing what worked and improve upon those efforts that didn’t in the future. Thank you in advance for your participation and honest assessment! Survey will remain open until 11:59 p.m. on Saturday, March 14th.
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Is It Reverse 911 or a SPAM Call?Those pesky spam calls are so annoying. They come at the worst times, and you never know who it is. Your cell phone carrier screens a lot of them based on your call history and your contact list. But sometimes they make mistakes. When the Town puts out a Reverse 911 call to notify you of a local emergency, utility outage or impending hazardous weather, you want to hear what they have to say. After all, you signed up for the service through the Town of Chatham. Unfortunately, many of our residents don’t get these calls because they show up on their caller ID as SPAM. The best way to make sure you receive these important calls is to enter the following number into your contact list. All the Reverse 911 calls from the town originate from 508-945-5191. If you enter that number into your contacts and name it, TOC Emergency Information, you will be ensuring yourself you get the emergency notifications you signed up for. If you are not currently signed up to receive Reverse 911 notification calls from the Town and want to, click here. Or you can stop by Fire Headquarters during normal business hours, and we will get you signed up. If you have previously enrolled but have changed phone numbers, please log in and update your contact information and notification preferences. |
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Attn: Residents with Blizzard DamageThe 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).
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Select Board Meeting – March 3rdThe Select Board approved an application to change the “Doing Business As” (DBA) on the annual all alcoholic beverages liquor license for 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. After hearing from the Chairs of the Economic Development Advisory Committee and the Finance Committee recommending the approval of the increases to the current list of the Chatham Transfer Station proposed by Rob Faley, Director of Public Works, and local haulers, the Board voted to approve their own phased increase to the fees paid by commercial haulers and the public to deposit waste at the Transfer Station effective July 1, 2026 (see new fees below). The Board voted not to charge a fee for crib mattresses or fire extinguishers. The Board requested an opinion on the legality of charging a different rate for commercial haulers not based in Chatham and for non-residents depositing trash at the Transfer Station.
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| Description | New Fee | | 9-11 Bags of Garbage | $20 each | | Commercial Garbage | $120/ton | | Commercial Single Stream | $145 ton | | Chairs/Upholstered | $15 each | | Demolition Debris | $225/ton | | Mattresses/Box Springs | $50 each | | Sofa | $30 each | | Tires(Large/Truck) | $20 each | | Crib Mattresses | No Charge | | Fire Extinguishers | No Charge |
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With the approval of the Consent Agenda the Board re-issued the 2026 Annual Entertainment License to Uncle Tony’s LLC to reflect the change to the DBA and granted Castleberry Fairs permission to conduct sales on Town property on July 11 – 12, August 1-2, and September 12-13, 2026 at the Community Center. After hearing from individual members, the Board voted to approve an extension of Town Manager Jill Goldsmith’s appointment until June 30, 2031 and an amendment to her Employment Agreement dated December 6, 2022 by a vote of 3-1-1. Town Manager Goldsmith offered the following comments: Thank you. I respect the discussion this evening and remain committed to working with each of you in service to the community. As I shared in the report, this will be my final employment agreement prior to retiring from public service in 2031. After 36 years in local government — and fifteen here in Chatham — I feel both grateful and proud of the work we’ve accomplished together. My goal over these next several years is to continue supporting the Board’s policy direction, strengthening the organization, and ensuring the Town is well positioned for the next generation of leadership. It has been an honor to serve this community, my home. Assessing Director Candace Cook reported the number of properties in Town held in trust and the breakdown of those with Chatham or non-Chatham zip codes in an attempt to determine how many property owners would be impacted by the implementation of a Residential Exemption for FY2027. The numerous ways that a trust could qualify for the Residential Exemption were discussed. The Board took no action on this information. Finance Director Carrie Mazerolle reviewed several 2026 Annual Town Meeting articles. The Board voted to place and recommend an article making an appropriation from the Town’s overlay account to fund the Real Exemption whenever it is implemented. The Board voted to place and recommend three articles on the Annual Town Meeting warrant to accept sections of MA General Law that expand property tax exemptions for veterans on the 2026 Annual Town Meeting warrant. The Board voted to place and recommend the approval of an easement to the Boston Gas Company for the new water treatment plant at 128 Training Field Road. The public is encouraged to watch the meeting in its entirety through Chatham TV’s on-demand archive. |
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Rescheduled Artist ReceptionThe Artist Reception for the 2nd Annual Employee Art Showcase postponed due to impacts from the blizzard has been rescheduled to Thursday, March 12th 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. We hope you will be able to stop by to meet the talented members of Team Chatham who submitted examples of their art work this year! 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 12th.
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Upcoming Public HearingsThe 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 10, 2026To 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.
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Media Swap 2026Do you have old books or music sitting on your shelf that you don’t know what to do with? To bring a new life to books, CDs, DVDs and other media, ChathamRecycles will be hosting its 14th Annual Book & Media Swap on Saturday, March 21st-22nd from 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. The event will be held at the Chatham Town Annex, lower level and is FREE for the public. Everyone is welcome to attend to take home free books, music and movies - whether you drop or not! If you have unwanted books, CDs, DVDs, VHS tapes, audio cassettes, puzzles, and/or vinyl records, you may drop them at the Town Annex Lower Level, 261 George Ryder Road, starting Wednesday, March 18th - Friday, March 20th, 10:00 am – 2:00 pm. Drop off limited to 2 bags or boxes per person. The purpose of the swap is to keep books, CDs, DVDs and other media out of waste stream and promote re-use of these items. We will accept all forms of media except damaged audio/visual media and homemade media, encyclopedias, textbooks, and moldy/musty books. Also please we will not accept any electronic playing devices (VCRS, DVD players, etc.). Media materials not taken away for re-use at the end of the event on March 22nd will go to an organization that gives free books to schools and nonprofits in Massachusetts, to troops overseas, and reuses the rest by selling them through an online store. The bin, located at the Chatham Transfer Station, is always open to accept various forms of media – again, to keep it out of the waste-stream and save the Town the cost of disposal. If you have questions or need additional information regarding this event, please call the Town of Chatham Health Office at 508-945-5165 or email jgiorgio@chatham-ma.gov or go to www.chathamrecycles.org or visit us on Facebook.
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Wellness WeeklyWelcome to Wellness Weekly, highlighting resources that support your mental well-being. This week, we’re focusing on alcohol use. Consuming alcohol in moderation is okay, but if your drinking is getting in the way of your relationships, your job, or other parts of your life, then your alcohol use may be causing harm. Are you concerned that your alcohol use (or that of a loved one) is a problem? Helpful resources are available at https://lowercape.crediblemind.com/topics/alcohol-use-disorder.
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Better Beachcombing: Tidal TreasuresChatham Conservation Foundation’s Winter Webinar series continues in March! Join naturalist Phil Kyle for a free webinar for both adults and kids on the natural treasures that can be commonly found while beachcombing on the Atlantic seashore on Saturday, March 14th from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. Learn to play detective, using the clues that have washed ashore to discover what is living in the ocean nearby! Registration is required. The Conservation Foundation’s Winter Webinars are made possible through a generous grant from the Chatham Cultural Council.
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Next Select Board Meeting - March 10, 2026 @ 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. February 17, 2026 B. February 25, 2026 II. Public Announcements and Agenda Item Requests III. Public Hearings A. To consider a petition from Verizon New England, Inc. to install a 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 B. 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-eighty (180) feet to Mill Pond Road pumping station project C. 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) IV. Consent Agenda V. Chatham Wells, PFAS, and Drinking Water Testing and Pumping Update – January and February 2026 VI. Public Comments on Business Agenda VII. Business Agenda A. Consider Special One-Day Alcohol Licenses and Entertainment Licenses; Chatham Historical Society, Inc. - Various Dates B. Consider, as Water and Sewer Commissioners, Proposed Grinder Pump Regulations Revisions (Water & Sewer Advisory Committee Meeting on 3/9/26) C. 2026 Annual Town Meeting Articles Review and Vote to Place/Recommend i. Chatham Municipal Airport Federal Fiscal Year (FFY) 2026 Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) – Design Aircraft Study (Continued from 2/10/2026) ii. Home Rule Petition to Allow Year-Round Housing Occupancy Restrictions and Attainable Housing Restrictions to be Held in Perpetuity under MGL CH. 184 §31 iii. Acceptance of Bequest from the Estate of Priscilla Ford of the Property at 63 George Ryder Road iv. Appropriation from the Attainable Housing Special Revenue Fund; Attainable Ownership Housing at Stepping Stones Road v. Appropriation from the Attainable Housing Special Revenue Fund; Lease-to-Locals Program vi. Implementation of Residential Tax Exemption: Delay (Article submitted by Finance Committee 3/2/2026) vii. Cape Cod Regional Technical High School FY2027 Operating Budget/Assessment D. Consider Release of Executive Session Minutes i. January 13, 2026 ii. February 17, 2026 |
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The MainsheetThe 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 MainsheetSubscribe 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. |
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