Eight Police Officers standing outside in front of a flagpole

New Officers Graduate Police Academy

Chatham Police were in Plymouth today to celebrate Officer James Hamilton's and Officer Clint Collier's graduation from the 74th Plymouth Police Academy. From left to right: Sgt. Sean Ryder, Sgt. Sarah Harris, Chief Mike Anderson, Off. James Hamilton, Off. Clint Collier, Deputy Chief Lou Malzone, Lieutenant Andy Goddard, Off. Will Dimitres.

Anglers Recognize Chatham Town Employees

The Chatham Anglers will recognize our dedicated Town employees at their game on Thursday, July 13th with Chatham Town Employee Appreciation Night. We are thrilled to have Team Chatham honored by Chatham's team. Representing all Town employees, Facilities Foreman Richard Corres will be throwing out the first pitch of the game and some fun trivia about Town will be offered throughout the evening.

Black Pick-up truck at the Public Works building with Town of Chatham on driver door

Annual Backflow Inspections Ongoing

The Water/Sewer Division will be conducting annual Backflow device tests on registered irrigation systems drawing from the Town's Water Supply until September 30, 2023.  They will be in vehicles clearly marked as a Water Division/Sewer Division and will have paperwork pertaining to individual properties with them. Our Town bylaws state that testing will be performed by an employee of the Town or their designee which at this time is our contracted Water Operator Weston & Sampson.  Thank you in advance for your cooperation with this process.

Does your irrigation system need to be registered with the Town? Take the Irrigation Survey to ensure your compliance with the Town's Water Regulations.

Piping plover and chick on a sandy beach

North Beach Endangered Species Update

Piping Plovers are listed as a Threatened Shorebird under the USFWS Endangered Species Act and the Massachusetts Endangered Species Act. They can be found nesting along most shorelines on Cape Cod and the North Shore.

This year the Piping Plovers began their breeding season early on North Beach which is also a popular destination for over-sand vehicles, self-contained campers, and boaters. The breeding season begins with the arrival of the adults in mid-March. In April they pair up and establish their nesting territory and foraging areas. In May through early June, they begin laying 4 egg clutches. Both adults incubate the eggs which typically hatch at about 28 days of incubation. The chicks are precocial and within hours of hatching they make their way to the rack lines and tidal flats where they feed on microorganisms and insects. They fledge after 26-35 days on average, then migrate south where they spend the winter months.

This year there are 23 nests on North Beach, which is a record high. When unfledged chicks are present on the beach the beach must close under State and Federal Regulations to all vehicles except essential Town Vehicles. The staff, consisting of North Beach Manager Paul Wightman and 2 Shorebird Monitors conduct daily intense monitoring to ensure that 1^st nest attempts are found and exclosed to protect them from predation.

Orange Parking Ticker on car windshield under washer blade

Parking Ticket Information

If your vehicle is ticketed for violation of parking regulations please be aware that our Parking Clerk is an independent position and not part of the Police Department. The Police Department does not handle parking ticket appeals.

If you wish to dispute a parking ticket, you have three options:

Follow the instructions printed on the ticket to appeal in writing and mail to PO Box 1347, West Chatham, MA 02669

Visit the Parking Clerk's webpage and download an appeal form which can be emailed to parkingclerk@chatham-ma.gov.

Attend an in-person hearing Tuesday afternoons (July - August, except July 11) at 4:30 p.m at the Town Office Annex, 261 George Ryder Road in the upper level meeting room.

Golden Oldie Movie at the Council on Aging on Tuesday July 11 at 1 p.m.

black mosquito silhouette in a red circle with a slash through it

Mosquito Prevention

Recent rains have been a good thing for gardens, lawns, and unfortunately mosquitos.

To reduce the mosquito population around your property:

Drain any standing water that may have collected to prevent mosquito breeding.
Change water in birdbaths regularly.
Clean your gutters to keep water running freely.

To reduce your risk of being bitten and possibly contracting West Nile Virus or Eastern Equine Encephalitis, use mosquito repellant and wear long-sleeved shirts, long pants and socks (weather permitting) to reduce skin exposure when outdoors, especially around sunrise and sunset when mosquitos are most active.

visitors at the side door of the Godfrey Windmill

Godfrey Windmill Tours

The Godfrey Windmill will be open for tours on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. through September 1st. The Windmill is locating in Chase Park and admission is always free!

The tours provide a close-up look at the inner workings of the mill and the guides are available to answer any questions.

Tours will be offered every day during the Festival of the Arts, August 18th -20th from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and on the day with the most favorable wind conditions, the mill will be set in motion to grind corn into cornmeal.

Tours may be cancelled due to heavy rain or severe weather conditions to protect the historic mill from water damage.

white hydrangeas along a white fence in a backyard with patio

2023 Hydrangea Festival

The Chatham Garden Club presents five spectacular gardens as part of the Cape Cod Hydrangea Festival sponsored by the Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce. These private gardens, some hidden and tucked away, offer unmatched views and display the beauty of the ocean, making Chatham one of the loveliest places on Cape Cod.

The gardens offer not only the favorite Nikko Blue Hydrangeas, but many unique varieties, plus other shrubs, flowers, trees and waterfront views. This one-day-only tour supports the Chatham Garden Club Scholarship Fund and the town beautification projects. Garden tours are $5 per person, per garden. You can pay cash at each garden on the day of the garden tour. Each garden is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday, July 14 only.

All garden tours are rain or shine and non-refundable. Visit the Chatham Garden Club website for a full list of the gardens participating in the Hydrangea Festival.

Habitat Homes Applications Open

Habitat for Humanity of Cape Cod is accepting applications for two affordable 3-bedroom homes to be built on Phoebe Way located off 26 Red Top Road in Brewster. The homes are priced at $164,000 and $233,700. There is a US Veteran preference for one of the homes.

Persons considering applying are strongly encouraged to attend one of the Applicant Information Workshops scheduled. Virtual Workshops via Zoom are being held on Tuesday, July 18th from 6-8 p.m. and Monday, August 7 from 10 a.m. - 12 noon (links to join are are included in the application). An in-person workshop will be held at the Brewster Ladies Library, 1822 Main Street, Brewster on Tuesday, July 11th from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Applications are available from the Habitat for Humanity Cape Cod website, from Habitat's office located at 411 Main Street, Yarmouthport, and at the Brewster Ladies Library. To request a paper application be mailed to you call 508-362-3559.

Application deadline is August 14, 2023. Income eligibility applies.

Next Select Board Meeting - July 11, 2023 @ 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

June 27, 2023

July 5, 2023

II. Public Announcements and Agenda Item Requests

III. Public Hearings

A. Eversource Petition; Install Handhole & Conduit, Mill Pond Road Pump Station

B. Eversource Petition; Install Handhole & Conduit, 356 Stage Harbor Road

C. Eversource Petition; Install Handhole & Conduit, 303 Main Street

IV. Drought Status Update and Discussion - DPW Director Rob Faley

V. Public Comments on Business Agenda

VI. Business Agenda (Board Discussion Items)

A. Year End Transfers – Finance Director Alix Heilala

B. Summer Residents Advisory Committee (SRAC) Request to Conduct a Survey of Summer Residents and Review Draft Survey - SRAC Communications Subcommittee Chair Stuart Green

C. Special Town Meeting (9/18/23) Warrant Article Review

a. Belt Filter Press Project Supplemental Funding – Transfer from Wastewater Capital Stabilization Fund – Vote to Place Article and Recommend – Finance Director Alix Heilala

D. Acceptance of Bequest of Property for Affordable Housing (63 George Ryder Road – Estate of Priscilla Ford) and Preparation of an Article for the Special Town Meeting of September 18, 2023 or 2024 Annual Town Meeting – Town Counsel Costello

E. Low Lying Roads Study - Road Selection - Director of Coastal Resources Ted Keon

F. Consider Release of Executive Session Minutes

G. Appointments

a. Airport Commission

b. Historical Commission

H. Convene Affordable Housing Trust Fund Board of Trustees

V. Affordable Housing Trust Fund Board of Trustees Executive Session

To consider the purchase, exchange, lease, or value of real property if such discussion may have a detrimental effect on the negotiating position of the government body with no reconvene in Open Session.

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!

Town of Chatham website www.chatham-ma.gov