Coastal Salt Marsh Symposium

The Friends of Pleasant Bay and the Pleasant Bay Alliance are holding a Coastal Salt Marsh Symposium on Monday, March 30th from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the Community Center, 702 Main Street.

This free two-hour program will bring together scientists, local officials, and coastal experts to discuss how science can guide action to protect salt marshes in Pleasant Bay and beyond. The latest research, restoration success, and practical tools to help communities protect and restore these vital ecosystems will be showcased.

Director of Natural Resources Greg Berman and Coastal Resilience Director Catharine Ricks will join experts from the Cape Cod National Seashore, Center for Coastal Studies, Pleasant Bay Alliance, Orleans Conservation Trust and others for this informative discussion.

Space is limited and advanced registration is encouraged.

Aerial photo looking south over Monomoy Island

Prescribed Burn at Monomoy NWR

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) plans to conduct a prescribed burn at Monomoy National Wildlife Refuge during the week of March 23rd to restore critical nesting habitat. Overgrown dunes, invasive plants, and thatch have choked open sandy areas essential for nesting, causing overcrowding, higher predation risk, and increased competitor species. USFWS expects to burn 90 acres on the north end of South Monomoy Island with the goal of increasing high quality habitat for common and roseate terns.

The actual dates for the prescribed burns will depend on favorable weather conditions, including relative humidity, fuel moisture, and wind speed and direction to achieve the desired objectives and for the smoke to rise and disperse. Each prescribed burn is expected to be completed within one day with active burning over several hours. Smoke may be visible from a distance.

To ensure public safety, access to all of South Monomoy Island (including the lighthouse) will be temporarily closed while prescribed burning is in progress however, the trails on Morris Island will remain open.

Local Police and Fire Departments will be notified prior to the prescribed burn. Visitors and residents are reminded that smoke may be visible after the burn is completed, but personnel will monitor and patrol the area until the prescribe burns are declared out.

Cellphone icon with a exclamation point in a red circle on its screen.

Sign up for Smart911

In order to receive reverse 911, text and/or email alerts from the Town in an you must subscribe to Smart911, our emergency notification provider.

Smart911 is a high-speed notification system designed to make calls, emails, and SMS text notifications to specific people or areas in the event of an emergency.

These messages may include information on floods, fires, water emergencies, road closures, missing persons, evacuation orders, weather and other emergencies.

It is important that residents and business owners verify their contact information. Accurate email addresses, landline, and mobile numbers help to ensure, but cannot guarantee, that emergency information will be passed on to everyone in a timely manner.

Residents can add additional telephone numbers. The address documented must be in Chatham, but the phone number can be from anywhere. Emergency messages can reach TTY (teletypewriter) phones used by the hearing impaired.

Please sign up using this link. If you do not have access to a computer, you may call the Chatham Fire Department at 508-945-2324 to get signed up or stop by the Fire Station, 135 Depot Road, during regular business hours.

If you have previously subscribed to the system but did not receive notifications during the blizzard:

Please verify your contact information in the system and update and/or add additional phone numbers, if applicable.
If you have subscribed to receive alerts on a mobile device, please add 508-945-5191 TOC Emergency Information to your contact list to ensure your carrier doesn’t mark the messages as spam.
If you have Xfinity Voice, you may need to adjust Spam Blocker settings in your account.

Yellow triangular sign with Area Closed in black

A “Shore” Sign of Spring

Seabird season is almost upon us and Mass Audubon has begun installing protective shorebird fencing on area beaches.

Installations have begun in Chatham at Cockle Cove, Ridgevale, and Forest Beach with fencing going up on Harding’s and Lighthouse Beach starting next week.

Once installed, please keep kids and pets outside of fenced areas. By giving the birds the best chance at nesting successfully upon their arrival this spring, we may see them depart earlier and gain greater beach access this summer.

Thank you for your cooperation!

Annual media swap is this weekend at the Annex from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday

2nd half FY2026 tax bills are due by 4 p.m. on May 1st.

Tax Bills Coming Soon

The second installment of FY2026 Real Estate and Personal Property bills are scheduled to be released next week and payments are due by 4 p.m. on Friday, May 1st. Payments not received in the Treasurer’s office by the due date will be considered late and will be subject to interest.

Payments may be made by US Mail, in-person at the Treasurer/Collector’s office or via drop box at in the vestibule at the Town Offices, 549 Main Street.

Online payments can be made through the Town of Chatham’s website through City Hall Systems.

Contributions to the newly established Taxation Aid Fund may be made in the designated space on your real estate tax bill or via online payment.

Please take note: the residential exemption is not in effect for the current tax season.

Select Board seated at the dais in a large meeting room

Select Board Action – March 17th

The Select Board approved the renewal of the Town’s Seasonal Liquor Licenses for 2026.

The Select Board voted to unanimously recommend to 2026 Annual Town Meeting two petitioned articles submitted by Seth Taylor to adopt sections of Massachusetts General Law which will reduce the interest rate on properties in tax deferral and consolidates properties held in tax title and tax deferral with interest on the accounts accrued at the tax deferred rate. Petitioned articles are automatically placed on the Annual Town Meeting warrant.

The Select Board voted to place a Zoning Bylaw Amendment regarding the Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) Bylaw on the Town Meeting warrant and voted unanimously to recommend its approval.

The Select Board voted to place and unanimously recommend an article seeking budget transfers to cover storm-related expenses as proposed by Director of Finance Carrie Mazerolle.

The Select Board voted to place an article seeking acceptance of a bequest of property at 63 George Ryder Road from the estate of Priscilla "Pat" Ford and voted unanimously to recommend its approval to the Town Meeting voters.

After a discussion of a Citizen Petition Article proposing a new bylaw directing the Board to conduct an analysis of all new regulations and statutes and for such to be reviewed by the Finance Committee before formal adoption as submitted by Chris Wray, the Select Board voted 0-5-0 against recommending the article’s approval.

The Board reviewed a listing of Town Meeting articles and provided their recommendation on the ordering of articles and noted articles for which each wished to offer the motions.

The history of the Town’s interest in attracting a research facility to Town in collaboration with an academic institution was reviewed. It was noted that there had been interest in this endeavor prior to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. The potential for job creation and synergies with existing Town partners were noted. The assets the Town can bring to such a partnership were discussed. Director of Natural Resources Greg Berman spoke to the number of possibilities that could be pursued in this endeavor. The Board voted to formalize the creation of a working group of the Select Board comprised of members who had previously served in that capacity with the possibility of adding new members to be referred to as the Academic Research Collaborative Working Group.

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

Chatham is hiring Community Service Officers for the 2026 summer season

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 during their regularly scheduled meetings on Tuesdays, beginning at 5:30 p.m., in the large meeting room at the Town Office Annex, 261 George Ryder Road.

March 24 (continued from March 10, 2026)

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.

April 7

To consider a petition from NSTAR Electric Company d/b/a Eversource Energy to install 215’ +/- 2-4” conduit and one (1) new manhole 10242/010 for new underground service at 162 Shore Road.

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

Rendering of the renovated and expanded Center for Active Living

SAVE THESE DATES – Center for Active Living Building Project

Building Project Information Session

Wed., April 15th, 11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., Community Center, 702 Main Street

See the plans, elevations, and material samples. Ask questions in an informal setting.

Q&A with the CFAL Building Working Group

Wed., April 22, 5 p.m., Town Office Annex, 261 George Ryder Road

Get the answers to your questions about the final plans for the project directly from the decision makers.

Center for Active Living Tours

Mon., May 4th, 1 p.m. – 3 p.m., Center for Active Living, 193 Stony Hill Road

Thurs. May 7th, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m., Center for Active Living, 193 Stony Hill Road

Tour the Center for Active Living to see first hand the challenges posed by the current configuration and the possibilities and increased space the new design will provide to our older community members.

People waiting in line to order stickers

New Online Portal for Sticker Sales

Not looking forward to waiting in line for a sticker? You don’t have to! Skip the line, order online!

The Town has partnered with Town Hall 24/7 to provide a new online portal for ordering and paying for permits and stickers. Online sales of Beach/Transfer Station/Combination/ Recycling and Recreational Shellfish stickers are now available. Once ordered, you may choose to have your permit or sticker mailed to you or picked up in person. Non-resident stickers are only available online and at the beach gates.

Purchasers can securely place an order by entering their name and Chatham address or by providing non-resident information. This system offers a convenient way to purchase stickers and permits online. Resident OSV permits (beginning May 5th) and Family Shellfish Permits will now also be available through the portal.

Residents are strongly encouraged to use the online system. Mail-in options remain available. If mailing your application, please complete the appropriate form and follow the instructions provided.

2026-2027 Beach and Transfer Station stickers and Shellfish permits will be available for in-person sales at the Annex beginning Wednesday, April 1st. Resident Over Sand Vehicle (OSV) will be available beginning Tuesday, May 5th in-person and through the online portal.

Questions? Check out the FAQ’s on the Sticker Office webpage, contact the Sticker office in March on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 508-945-5180, or email stickeroffice@chatham-ma.gov.

Stylized MCC in teal and orange with Mass Cultural Council to the right

Arts Entrepreneurship Course Offered

The Massachusetts Cultural Council is excited to announce a new Arts Entrepreneurship course offering artists and creatives a professional development opportunity to help them build financially sustainable careers while staying true to their vision.

The free course is offered through the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's online learning initiative. The course features 12 modules and practical exercises designed to equip artists with business skills, and to advance their ability to strategically and sustainably generate revenue through their creative work.

Class begins on March 26, 2026 and runs through June 25, 2026. Click here for more info and to register.

Crossed blue anchors with a red white and blue shield in the center with US Coast Guard Auxiliary in a white circle around the shield

Boating Safety Courses Offered

Massachusetts recently passed the Hanson-Milone Act, a law requiring individuals born after January 1, 1989, to obtain a state-approved boating safety certificate to legally operate a boat. Compliance is required by April 1, 2026, with enforcement beginning September 1, 2026. The minimum age to obtain a certificate is 12 years old. All those born before January 1, 1989, will have until April 1, 2028, to comply.

This new requirement aims to improve safety on Massachusetts waterways, reduce boating accidents, and ensure that all operators are educated on safe boating practices.

Chatham’s Flotilla 11-01 of the Coast Guard Auxiliary will offer one day “Boat America” boating skills courses at the Chatham Community Center, 702 Main Street, on Saturday, April 11th beginning at 8:30 a.m.

The “Boat America” course is approved by the State, offers a comprehensive curriculum taught by experienced instructors, and at $50 per student which includes course book and all materials is an affordable local option.

Registration is available through Flotilla’s website. Additional courses will be offered at the Community Center on Saturday, May 30th; Saturday, June 20th; and Saturday, August 1st.

Two arched bridges over the Cape Cod Canal

Cape Cod Bridges Project

The Massachusetts Department of Transportation has filed the Final Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the Cape Cod Bridges Project with the Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act Office, marking another major milestone in advancing the replacement of the Cape Cod bridges.

The report is now available in the March 11, 2026, edition of the MEPA Environmental Monitor. The MEPA Office will accept public comments through April 10, 2026, and expects to issue a certificate on the Final Environmental Impact Report on April 17, 2026.

Public comments on the EIR can be submitted through the MEPA Public Comment Portal, by email to: Nicholas.Moreno@mass.gov , or via U.S. mail to: Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs, Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA), Attn: MEPA Office, Nicholas Moreno, 100 Cambridge Street, Suite 900, Boston MA, 02114. Please reference EEA# 16695 in all correspondence.

For more information on the replacement of the Cape Cod Bridges, please visit the projects website.

Next Select Board Meeting - March 24, 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. March 3, 2026

B. March 10, 2026

II. Public Announcements and Agenda Item Requests

III. Public Hearing

A. 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. (Continued from 3/10/2026)

IV. Consent Agenda

V. Public Comments on Business Agenda

VI. Business Agenda

A. 2026 Annual Town Meeting Article Review; Vote to Place and Recommend

i. ATM 2026 Proposed Article for Additional Funding for the Expansion and Renovation of the Existing Center for Active Living (CFAL) – 193 Stony Hill Road

ii. Monomoy Regional School District Operating Budget/Assessment FY2027

iii. Citizen Petition Article Submitted by G. Hicks – Consider Amendment to Town Bylaw Chapter 261 – Water Supply Emergencies

iv. Citizen Petition Article Submitted by B. Phillips – Acceptance of Local Option MGL Ch. 59, sec. 5 (O) for Affordable Housing Tax Exemption for Year-Round Rental Properties

B. Annual Town Meeting of May 11, 2026; Vote to Close and Sign Warrant

C. Consider Special One-Day Alcohol License; Cape Cod Commercial Fishermen’s Alliance Meet the Fleet on April 1, 2026 at 1566 Main Street

D. Opioid Settlement Funds Community Health Needs Assessment – Presentation by Crescendo

E. Discussion of Short-Term Rental Policy/Regulation (Select Board Agenda Item Request by Member S. Davis 7/8/25) and Consideration of a Potential Fee Increase

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.