What's Open, What's Closed this Weekend

Easter Sunday

Town offices, the Community Center, the Center for Active Living and the Transfer Station are closed.

Patriots' Day

Town offices, the Community Center, and the Center for Active Living are closed. The Transfer Station is open.

Gathering of people standing in front of a dais

Ted Keon Retires

The Natural Resources Department hosted a “last coffee” for Coastal Resources Director Ted Keon this morning marking his retirement from the Town.

Ted’s service to the Town has been recognized by the Town Manager and Select Board, State Legislature, Barnstable County, and Town committees in the lead up to his last day on the job.

The loss of his institutional knowledge and grant writing skills will be tough but it will be his good nature that will be sorely missed! We wish him all the best in his next chapter.

Chatham's Revolutionary War Memorial in Chase Park

250 Years of Liberty!

Celebrate the 250th anniversary of the start of the American Revolution with a visit to Chase Park and the Revolutionary War Memorial on Monday, Patriots’ Day, to honor the Chatham patriots who served in the cause of liberty!

The Revolutionary War Memorial was placed in Chase Park near the Benjamin Godfrey Windmill in recognition of Benjamin Godfrey's leadership of the Chatham Military Company during the war. The Memorial was made possible through funding from the Community Preservation Act in 2021.

April On Tap

The April 2025 edition of On Tap, the Water Division's monthly newsletter focuses on the importance of annual water main flushing.

Water main flushing is a maintenance measure to prevent the build-up of sediment, rust and naturally occurring microorganisms that could accumulate over time and cause discolored water in our distribution system.

Want to know how to prepare for flushing in your area and what to expect when it occurs? Read it here!

And in related news...

Main Street Water Main Flushing

Please be advised that the Department of Public Works Water Division will be flushing the water mains on Main Street and the downtown area on Wednesday April 23rd.

To lessen the disruption to businesses flushing will begin at 9pm on April 23rd and is anticipated to be completed by 2am on April 24th. Some discolored water may be experienced during the late evening and early morning hours. Please flush fixtures before normal usage. If the problem persists, please call the Water Division office at (508) 945-5150.

We apologize for any inconvenience that this may cause. The Department of Public Works Water Division and Veolia’s operations staff thank you for your cooperation and understanding during this process.

Annual Town Meeting Preview Show

The A.T.M. 2025 Preview Show is now available for viewing!

The show features Town Manager Jill Goldsmith and Director of Finance Carrie Mazerolle discussing some of the articles being proposed at the 2025 Annual Town Meeting on Saturday, May 10 beginning at 11 a.m. at the Monomoy Regional Middle School, 425 Crowell Road.

The video also includes an introduction to our new Town Meeting Warrant Digital Companion, which includes the text of each article, the recommendations of the Select Board and Finance Committee, and links to the Chatham TV video archive of the Select Board's discussion of each.

This is a new, more concise format from previous Annual Town Meeting Preview shows.

Annual Town Election Information

The Annual Town Election will be held Thursday, May 15, 2025 at the Community Center, 702 Main Street. Polls open at 7 a.m. and close at 8 p.m.

If you are new to Town or a first-time voter, the last day to register to vote and participate in the Annual Town Meeting and Annual Town Election is Wednesday, April 30th until 5:00 p.m. You can register to vote in-person at the Town Clerk’s office, 549 Main Street, or through the Secretary of the Commonwealth’s Online Voter Registration System.

The deadline to submit a Vote By Mail application (available from the Town Clerk’s office) is May 8th at 5 p.m. Deadline to return a Vote By Mail Ballot to the Town Clerk's Dropbox is May 15th at 8 p.m.

In-person Absentee voting is available at the Town Clerk’s office until 12 p.m. on May 14th for those who are unable to Vote By Mail and are unable to vote in person on Election Day.

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

Select Board Action - April 15th

After recognizing the retirement of Ted Keon, Coastal Resources Director, and presentations to him of Town and State Legislature citations by State Senator Cyr and Representative Luddy, both stayed to provide a brief legislative update.

The Select Board approved the transfer of the Annual All Alcoholic Beverages Package Store license from Eric Paone, Sr. d/b/a Chatham Light Liquors, Eric Paone, Sr. Manager to Portside Liquors Chatham, Inc. d/b/a Portside Liquors, George Metri, Manager for the business located at 303 Orleans Road.

Director of Public Works Rob Faley provided an update on the Town’s Drinking Water Testing and Pumping for March 2025. He said water usage is slightly lower than last year. He made the Board aware that the Water & Sewer Advisory Committee would be making a recommendation on water conservation restrictions due to the Drought Status Declaration of Level 2-Severe Drought for the Cape & Islands and the slow recharge of groundwater levels.

The Board proclaimed April 25, 2025 as the 14^th Annual Arbor Day in Chatham at the request of the Friends of Trees.

The Board approved First Night Chatham’s request to use the basement at the Town Offices at 549 Main Street for event space on Wednesday, December 31, 2025 with set up for the event beginning at 2 p.m. and ending at 10 p.m.

The Board approved a series of Special One-Day Entertainment Licenses and Special One-Day Alcohol Permits for the Chatham Historical Society’s summer events

The Select Board removed the restricted parking in front of 513 Main Street (Blue Fins Sushi & Sake).

Aimee Howell, Deputy Director of Community Services - Recreation and Beaches, reviewed updates to the Town’s Parks & Beaches and North Beach Island Rules and Regulations that are recommended for approval by the Parks & Recreation Commission. An addition to the Regulations prohibits the launching of drones from Town beaches. The Board approved the updated Rules & Regulations.

Deputy Director Howell introduced a new Town Facility Use Policy for the Board’s consideration. She said the intent of the Policy is to ensure that all requests to use Town facilities are handled in a standard manner. She reviewed the participant limits and fees structures. The Board provided suggested edits to be incorporated into the Policy

Consultants from Utile Design reviewed housing test fits for the former Ellis property at 127 Old Harbor Road. The Board discussed the various scenarios presented and tasked Housing & Sustainability Director Gloria McPherson with mapping out the next steps in the process.

Lucia Quinn was appointed to the Economic Development Advisory Committee.

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

Entrance at the Monomoy Regional Middle School

Information Sessions on Middle School Renovation Project

Monomoy Regional School District is embarking on a critically needed restoration project at Monomoy Regional Middle School. The current cedar shingle siding, installed in 1997, has degraded, allowing rainwater to enter. The district is working to replace that degraded cedar siding with more durable siding that will have a longer lifespan, require less maintenance, and insure against moisture damage. The project will be done in two phases: Phase 1 will include all the siding and replacement of all the windows, and Phase 2 will include the replacement of the school’s roof. MRSD was accepted into the MSBA Accelerated Repair Project program for partial reimbursement of the roofing project. The siding project is not eligible for this repair program reimbursement.

To provide community members with opportunities to learn more about this project and have their questions answered, Monomoy will hold information sessions in both Chatham and Harwich in the coming weeks. There will be a community information session in Harwich on April 22, 2025, from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. at the Harwich Community Center, and in Chatham on April 29, 2025, from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Chatham Community Center.

Residents in Chatham and Harwich will have the opportunity to vote on this important project at Harwich Town Meeting on May 5, Chatham Town Meeting on May 10 (Article 11), and the Harwich Town Elections on May 20.

More information on the project can be found on the district website at www.monomoy.edu/mrmsreno.

Comprehensive Permit Application Hearing for Housing

The Zoning Board of Appeals will open a Public Hearing on Application No. 20-034 from Pennrose LLC for Town-owned property at 0 &1533 Main Street at its meeting on May 8^th beginning at 2 p.m. in the large meeting room at the Town Office Annex, 261 George Ryder Road.

The applicants are requesting the grant of a Comprehensive Permit under Massachusetts General Law 40B, Sections 20-23 and 760 CMR 56.00, for the construction of forty-eight (48) dwelling units in nine (9) structures. Also proposed is the construction of a management building. The applicants are requesting the grant of various waivers from regulations promulgated by the Chatham Zoning Bylaw, the Chatham Water & Sewer Department and other local regulations.

The complete application is available for review.

Blue lighthouse with red stripes and gold stars

Parade Grand Marshall Announced

The Independence Day Parade Committee has selected Bette Hahner to serve as the 2025 Independence Day Parade’s Grand Marshall.

Bette has been a full-time resident for nearly 30 years and is an extremely active volunteer. Her efforts include serving as a past president of the Chatham Graden Club, a member of the Chatham Woman’s Club and Friends of Eldredge Library, and a volunteer for First Night Chatham. She represents this year’s parade theme of “The Seasons of Chatham” well.

Congratulations Bette, on this well-deserved honor!

Person in orange vest standing on a large pipe in the ground with an excavator in the background

Sewer Construction Update

Work for the week of April 21st – April 25th:

Oyster Pond Sewer Extension Project

Sewer work continues on Kelley Lane. Local traffic only. Police details and signage will be in place to assist residents.

Site work is planned at the Oyster Pond Condominiums (OPC) pumping station site (1233 Main Street).

Stage Harbor Road Sewer Extension

Site work continues at the pumping station site (Old Mill Boat Yard/Harbormasters Garage).

Mill Pond Pump Station

Sewer work is planned on Mill Pond Road. Road closures are planned for Mill Pond Road and Homestead Lane, local traffic only. Work associated with the Mill Pond Pumping Station will close access to the Town Landing.

Mom & Son Survivor at the Community Center

Cultural Council Reception

The public is welcome to attend the Chatham Cultural Council's reception for 2025 grant recipients at the Chatham Creative Arts Center on May 21 at 4:00pm.

The Cultural Council has awarded 27 grants for performances and educational endeavors including First Night, the Chatham Conservation Foundation's Earth Day, and the Chatham Orpheum's "Making the Arts Accessible in our Community."

Assistant Harbormasters Replace Waste Oil System

Last fall, the in-ground waste oil tank and associated structure at the Fish Pier sustained damage that rendered the system inoperable. Harbormaster staff subsequently removed the damaged structure, and the Department of Public Works (DPW) filled in the pit.

This spring, Assistant Harbormasters Ron Tayson and Mark Beecy constructed a new shed to accommodate removable waste oil drums, replacing the previous fixed-tank system. The new setup streamlines operations by eliminating the need for a tank truck, allowing for simple drum replacement when full.

Thank you, Ron and Mark, for your great work on this project!

County MMR Vaccination Clinic

With measles outbreaks reported in several U.S. states and spring break travel on the horizon, the Barnstable County Department of Health and Environment is urging the community and healthcare providers to take proactive steps to ensure MMR (Measles, Mumps, and Rubella) vaccinations are up to date—particularly for those who are traveling or may be unvaccinated, under-vaccinated, or unsure of their immunization status.

To support community-wide immunity, the CAPE Public Health Collaborative is working alongside the Barnstable County Public Health Nursing Division to host a series of regional MMR vaccination clinics in the coming weeks.

Clinics in our area include:

Wednesday, May 28th, 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. at the Dennis Center for Active Living, 1045 Route 134 in South Dennis
Wednesday, April 30th, 3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. at the Orleans Department of Public Works, 40 Giddiah Hill Road, Orleans

Measles is highly contagious and can spread rapidly in communities with gaps in vaccine coverage. With increased travel and international tourism, even a single undiagnosed case can trigger local transmission. The MMR vaccine is safe, effective, and remains the best defense against measles. Two doses of MMR vaccine offer the best protection and is 97% effective at preventing infection.

While no cases have been reported in Massachusetts to date, individuals traveling domestically or internationally to areas with measles transmission should review their immunization status.

An updated schedule complete with registration links is available online at: www.capecod.gov/MMRvaccine .

As part of Barnstable County’s commitment to public health and vaccine safety, the Department of Health and Environment has issued updated guidance on the administration of the Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR) vaccine for individuals with compromised immune systems. This document outlines key considerations for patients and healthcare providers, including the importance of medical clearance before vaccination. To learn more about eligibility and safety protocols, please read the full guidance here: https://www.capecod.gov/mmr-guidance .

Additional measles information for residents and providers can be accessed on the County’s website at www.capecod.gov/measles . Residents with questions about eligibility, clinic locations, and/or the online registration process can contact the Barnstable County Public Health Nursing Division at (508) 375-6617.

Yellow triangular "Area Closed" sign on a beach

Audubon Shorebird Report

The Mass Audubon Coastal Waterbird Program has begun monitoring local beaches for activity

Pairs of Piping Plovers have been spotted on many of our local beaches, foraging and displaying mating behavior. Additionally, American Oystercatchers have been seen in local marshes.

Protective fencing has been installed at Forest, Cockle Cove, Ridgevale, Harding’s, Quitnesset and Lighthouse Beaches. While dogs are permitted on local beaches through April 30, they must be leashed at all times. Please keep dogs and children out of fenced areas.

Remember, the quicker the plovers nest and the chicks fledge, the sooner restrictions will be lifted from the beaches.

Boats in storage covered in white and blue shrink wrap

Boat Shrink Wrap Recycling Program

Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute Sea Grant in partnership with the Cape Cod Cooperative Extension and five towns across the Cape are once again collecting and recycling boat shrink wrap for area residents.

The wrap must be clean and free of all non-shrink wrap material, including plastic straps, rope, wood frames, doors, zippers, etc. Contaminated material will not be accepted.

The Chatham Transfer Station is participating in the program. Cape residents can deposit shrink wrap free of charge, no sticker required. Commercial entities (e.g. boatyards, marinas, yacht clubs) will be charged $50 per ton.

Next Select Board Meeting - April 29, 2025 @ 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#.

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.