The Commission is a board of 7 volunteers who are citizens of the Town of Chatham and who are appointed by the Select Board for a three-year term.
The Commission's primary responsibility is to administer both local and state wetlands protection statutes (the Wetlands Protection Act, MGL Chapter 131, s. 40 and the Chatham Wetlands Protection Bylaw, Chapter 272). This means that the Commission reviews proposed projects to be undertaken in areas of its jurisdiction. The Commission's objective is to permit projects while protecting the natural resources and the public interests they provide.
The Commission is also responsible for overseeing several town-owned conservation lands.