Chatham Fire Dispatch Transitioning to Sheriff's Office

Starting March 3rd, the Chatham Fire Department will be transitioning to the Barnstable County Sheriff's Office for Fire/EMS dispatching services. This change is aimed at streamlining operations and enhancing response times for emergencies in our area.

What you need to know:

Fire and Emergency Medical Services for Chatham will be dispatched directly through the Barnstable County Sheriff's Office Emergency Communications Center. This change does not impact law enforcement services.

This transition will improve communication and provide more efficient service to the community.

In case of emergencies, always dial 911. Our first responders are ready and prepared to serve you. Stay safe, Chatham!

Hand holding a cellphone displaying an envelope on a fish hook

Phishing Scam Alert

Recently, a phishing attempt using an “@usa.com” email address posing as a Town Department contacted a member of the public soliciting a large amount of money for application fees. Email addresses ending in “@usa.com” are notorious for scams and phishing attempts. No town, city, state, or federal government agencies will use a “@usa.com” address to contact you.

Town of Chatham staff will never solicit fee payments from the public via email.

Unfortunately, any information that is publicly available can be used to manipulate trust. In this case, information for a posted meeting was used. Fortunately, this scam was not successful.

If you receive an unexpected communication from the Town and question its validity, please call the Town Offices at 508-945-5100 to verify.

Christine Brantley sitting in a chair in front of a computer screen

DPW Assistant Joins the Team

Town Manager Jill Goldsmith has appointed Christine Brantley as the newest Department Assistant in the Department of Public Works. Ms. Brantley began her employment on Monday, February 24th.

Ms. Brantley has over 15 years of experience in diverse aspects of office administration, most recently serving as office manager for Northside Design Associates in Yarmouth Port since 2019 and prior to that as administrative assistant at East Cape Engineering in Orleans. She gained knowledge of historic and zoning requirements and worked with local Planning Boards, Boards of Health, and Conservation Commissions while in these positions which will ease her transition to municipal work.

Please join us in welcoming Christine to Team Chatham!

Public Forum - Ch. 90, Section 17C - 25 mph Speed Limit

Thank you to the community members who participated in the Public Forum on the proposal to adopt MA General Law Chapter 90, Section 17C, which would allow the Town to reduce the speed limit from the statutory 30 miles per hour to 25 miles per hour on roadways in thickly settled or business districts that are not state highways.

If you were unable to watch the meeting live, it is available through the Chatham TV on-demand archive.

Family Skating event on March 16th , 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. at Charles Moore Arena - registration required through the Community Center

Select Board and Town Manager seated at the dais in te large meeting room

Select Board Action - February 25th

Finance Director Carrie Mazerolle provided an update on the proposed FY2026 Operating and Capital budgets and reviewed those areas that have been updated since the Board received the preliminary report on the initial proposed budgets.

The Board voted to transmit of the recommended FY2026 Operating and Capital Budgets to the Finance Committee per the Town of Chatham Bylaw and voted to place and recommendations of the FY2026 Operating and Capital Budget Articles on the Annual Town Meeting warrant.

The Select Board reviewed a series of Annual Town Meeting articles.

Thadd Eldredge reviewed a petitioned Protective (Zoning) Bylaw article to amend Section III.D.3.g: Exterior Mechanical System Appliances submitted on behalf of Impact Chatham. The Select Board voted to transmit the petitioned article to the Planning Board for a required Public Hearing.

Gary Toenniessen, Chair of the Community Preservation Committee (CPC), reviewed the nine articles that seek funding from Community Preservation Act (CPA) funds. These articles are automatically placed on the Town Meeting warrant. The Select Board voted affirmative recommendations on articles seeking funding for the CPC’s administrative budget, the CPA Fund Appropriation (10% Reserve Fund), the Affordable Housing Trust, preservation of the Stallknecht paintings in the mural barn at the Atwood House Museum, reconstruction of the historic barn at the Nickerson Family Homestead owned by the Nickerson Family Association, restoration of 127 historic headstones at Union Cemetery, reconstruction of the pier at the Little Mill Pond Town Landing, additional field studies to preserve open space for salt marshes, the update of the Town’s Open Space and Recreation Plan.

Gloria McPherson, Housing and Sustainability Director, introduced Tim Love and Courtney McCracken of Utile Architecture and Planning, who reviewed the test fits of housing units on Town-owned property at 127 Old Harbor Road which included 12 different options. The design team reviewed the scenarios that included 2-6 housing units with 1-3 bedroom counts. Ms. McPherson discussed the development requirements for some of the scenarios that could require comprehensive permits and the possibility of subdividing the lot. The effect of the Affordable Homes Act and the Town’s Seasonal Communities Designation on the ability of the Town to designate the units to year-round occupancy and to applicants from certain professions was noted. The Board discussed the number of structures, units, and curb cuts that were desirable on the property and whether or not to subdivide the property to move forward with more refined designs. Direction was provided to the design team for the development of three further refined options.

Items from the Town Manager’s Monthly Report for January 2025 were highlighted.

The public is encouraged to watch the meeting in full through the Chatham TV on-demand archive.

Cape Light Compact 2024 Annual Report for Chatham

Town Manager's Report Available

The Town Manager’s Monthly Report for the month of January 2025 was presented to the Select Board at its meeting on Tuesday, February 25th.

The Monthly Report contains reports from all Town Departments and Divisions on their work during the preceding month including a wide range of statistics from building permits issued to service calls to the Fire/Rescue Department to the value of commercial shellfish landing. Take a deep dive into the workings of Team Chatham and read the Town Manager’s Monthly Report.

Hand turning off a dripping outdoor spigot

Check for Leaks = Conserve Water

The Cape & Islands region is experiencing Level 2 – Significant Drought status.

In the interest of public safety and to curb demand on the water supply, we are requesting residents observe voluntary conservation practices.

Checking for leaks is a great way for residents and business owners to help conservation efforts! On average household leaks can account for nearly 10,000 gallons of water wasted every year and ten percent of homes have leaks that waste 90 gallons or more per day. Common types of leaks found in the home are worn toilet flappers, dripping faucets, and other leaking valves. These types of leaks are often easy to fix, requiring only a few tools and hardware that can pay for themselves in water savings. Fixing easily corrected household water leaks can save homeowners about 10 percent on their water bills.

To check for leaks in your home, you first need to determine whether you're wasting water and then identify the source of the leak. Here are some tips for finding leaks:

• Take a look at your water usage during a colder month, such as January or February. If a family of four exceeds 12,000 gallons per month, there are serious leaks.

• Check your water meter before and after a two-hour period when no water is being used. If the meter changes at all, you probably have a leak.

• Identify toilet leaks by placing a dye tablet or a drop of food coloring in the toilet tank. If any color shows up in the bowl after 10 minutes, you have a leak. (Be sure to flush immediately after the experiment to avoid staining the tank.) Chatham DPW has dye tablets (and other water saving devices) available free of charge.

• Examine faucet gaskets and pipe fittings for any water on the outside of the pipe to check for surface leaks.

Hand holding a small house model with a key

MCI Rental/Housing Savings Program

The Chatham Housing Authority has announced the availability of a two-bedroom home in the MCI Rental/Escrow Program. Eligible applicants will have the opportunity to save for a downpayment of their first home while renting a two-bedroom home on Crowell Road.

The MCI/Escrow Program is a five-year program in which renters pay $1600 per month (not including utilities) of which the Housing Authority escrows $1050 per month. At the end of the five-year rental term, the amount in escrow is $63,000 which is then available to the renter for the sole purpose of a down payment on a home on Cape Cod.

Income limits apply. Minimum household income is $65,000. Rent cannot exceed 30% of household income.

Interested parties should attend an informational meeting in the Chatham Housing Authority’s Community Room at 240 Crowell Road on either Thursday, February 27th at 6 p.m. or Saturday, March 1st at 10:00 a.m.

Applications may be obtained at the Chatham Housing Authority, 240 Crowell Road during regular business hours, Monday – Thursday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. & Friday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., or an application may be mailed or e-mailed to you by contacting the office at 508-945-0478. Application deadline is 12 p.m. on Friday, March 14th.

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 beginning at 5:30 p.m. in the large meeting room at the Town Office Annex, 261 George Ryder Road.

March 4

To consider a petition from NSTAR Electric Company d/b/a Eversource Energy to install 45’ +/- of 3” conduit from proposed handhole HH17/H35A (located on Shore Road) to a customer installed handhole at 38 Sandy Shoes Lane.

March 11

To consider the transfer and pledge of the Annual Wine and Malt Beverages Only package store license from Chatham Market, Inc. d/b/a Chatham Village Market, Stamatia MacDonald, Manager to CVM Retail, Inc. d/b/a Chatham Village Market, Harsh Patel, Manager, for the business located at 20 Queen Anne Road, Chatham.

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

Mil Pond Pump Station under constrcution

Sewer Construction Update

Work for the week of March 3^rd– March 7^th:

Oyster Pond Sewer Extension Project

Sewer testing is tentatively planned for the Pond View neighborhood.

Stage Harbor Road Sewer Extension Project

Continued site work is planned at the pumping station site (Old Mill Boat Yard/Harbormasters Garage).

Mill Pond Pump Station

Sewer work is planned to continue on Mill Pond Road. Road closures are planned for Mill Pond Road and Homestead Lane, local traffic only. Police detail(s) will be on-site to assist motorists. Please note that work associated with the Mill Pond Pumping Station will close access to the Town Landing.

Gold cod fish in the center of a blue circle with County of Barnstable Massachusettsten around it in a

Take the HOME Consortium Survey

Barnstable County is developing the Barnstable County HOME Consortium’s 2025-2029 Consolidated Plan and 2025 Annual Action Plan. The consolidated planning process serves as a framework for a community-wide dialogue to identify housing and community development priorities that align and focus funding from federal block grant programs. Barret Planning Group LLC has been contracted by the County to carry out this work.

As part of the needs assessment segment of the Consolidated Plan, Barret Planning Group has developed a survey for the purpose of better understanding of Barnstable County’s affordable housing.

The anonymous and confidential survey is available in English, Portuguese, and Spanish and is open until March 7th. All members of the Barnstable County community are encouraged to complete the survey.

Dan Zoto standing in front of a National Park Service sign

Tuesday Talks at the Atwood

The March edition of Tuesday Talks series at the Atwood Museum features National Park Service Archeologist Dan Zoto who will provide an overview of archeology at the Cape Cod National Seashore, summarizing past and present research and sharing insights into Native American and Euro-American land use on the Outer Cape.

This presentation will take place on Tuesday, March 25th at 5 p.m. in the Mural Barn of the Atwood Museum, 347 Stage Harbor Road. Admission is $10 for non-member, free for Museum members. Reservations are required and available through the Museum’s website.

Next Select Board Meeting - March 4, 2025 @ 5:00 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. Open Session

II. Executive Session – MGL Ch. 30A, §21(3) - To Discuss Strategy with Respect to Collective Bargaining or Litigation (Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination – MCAD) if an Open Meeting May Have a Detrimental Effect on the Bargaining Position of the Public Body and the Chair so Declares WITH RETURN to Open Session

III. Town Counsel Opinions on 2025 Citizen’s Petition Annual Town Meeting Warrant Articles (Town Counsel Talerman participating) Public Comments Accepted

A. Consider Citizen’s Petition Article – General Bylaw Amendment – Chapter 10, Boards, Committees, and Commissions – Section 5 – Affordable Housing Trust Fund

B. Consider Citizen’s Petition Article – Pay Outstanding Tax-Title Lien Held by the Town of Chatham against Residential Property Located at 330 Cedar Street, Chatham. Consider vote to place and recommend.

IV. Public Announcements and Agenda Requests

V. Public Hearing

A. Consider Petition from NSTAR Electric Company d/b/a Eversource Energy to install 45’ +/- of 3” conduit from proposed handhole HH17/H35A (located on Shore Rd) to a customer installed handhole at 38 Sandy Shoes Lane

VI. Public Comments on Business Agenda

VII. Business Agenda

A. Consider Outdoor Display of Goods and Sales on Town Property on June 28 – 29, 2025 and August 30 – 31, 2025 from 7:00 am – 5:00 pm at the Chatham Community Center – Supreme Fairs

B. Annual Town Meeting Articles Review

i. FY2026 Capital Article – Chatham Municipal Airport; Federal Fiscal Years (FFY) 2025 and 2026 Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) Projects

ii. General Bylaw Amendment - Chapter 238 Revisions – Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4)

iii. General Bylaw Amendment – Chapter 10 – Boards, Committees, and Commissions, Section 3.A - Finance Committee

iv. New Home Rule Petition for an Act Relative to the Membership of the Conservation Commission; Associate Members

v. Accept Massachusetts General Law Ch. 90 §175C: 25 MPH in Thickly Settled Areas

vi. Consider Warrant Article Requests from Chatham Community Housing Partnership Committee:

1. New Home Rule Petition Article: Adopt MGL Ch. 23 B §32(b) - Accept the Seasonal Communities Designation – Vote to Place and Recommend

2. New Home Rule Petition Article: Include “Fishermen as a group under Seasonal Communities Section of Affordable Homes Act

3. Authorize the Use of Attainable Housing Special Revenue Funds for Attainable Housing Purposes for the Town-Owned Properties at Stepping Stones Rd and 127 Old Harbor Rd.

VIII. Executive Session – MGL Ch. 30A §21(3) – To Discuss Strategy with Respect to Collective Bargaining or Litigation (Chatham Managers Association – CMA) if an Open Meeting May Have a Detrimental Effect on the Bargaining Position of the Public Body and the Chair so Declares with NO RETURN to 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!

Subscribe to The Mainsheet

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