Chatham's AAA Bond Rating Reaffirmed

The Town's AAA Bond Rating was recently re-affirmed by Standard & Poor’s with a “stable” outlook following a ratings review call with Town Manager Jill R. Goldsmith, Finance Director Heilala, the Town’s financial advisors, and S&P Analysts to discuss the issuance of General Obligation (GO) Bonds. The bond proceeds will finance the Town’s wastewater, water and waterfront projects.

AAA is the highest bond rating for municipalities.

The rating report states, “Chatham’s GO bonds are eligible to be rated above the sovereign because we think the town can maintain better credit characteristics than the nation in a stress scenario.” The rating further reflects S&P’s view of Chatham’s:

Stable economy
Strong budgetary performance and growing reserves
Very strong management with strong financial-management practices
Manageable direct debt

The report acknowledges Chatham’s elevated environmental risk due to its location along the Atlantic Ocean but determined it to be in line with other coastal communities and recognizes the town “has proactively managed this risk with the hiring of an exclusive director of coastal resources to assist with resiliency efforts, including hazard -mitigation planning, investment-waterfront infrastructure, and grants to assist with elevation-planning-flood reduction.” S&P considers “Chatham’s social and governance risks neutral.”

Town Manager Jill R. Goldsmith said in an email to Select Board members notifying them of the affirmation, “Our budgetary performance, inclusive budgeting and financial management review practices, COVID Financial Recovery Plan, cyber security and coastal resiliency planning efforts contributed to maintaining our S&P bond AAA rating and with a stable outlook!”

The GO bonds are scheduled for issuance on June 22, 2023. The Rating AAA/Stable is for both the new issuance and affirmed for outstanding GO Bonds. The Bond Award is scheduled for the Select Board’s meeting of June 13, 2023.

Tom Barr standing in a doorway in a high visibility vest

Tom Barr Appointed Deputy Director of Public Works

Tom Barr has been appointed as Chatham's Deputy Director of Public Works effective June 26, 2023.

Tom Barr is a familiar face to Chatham, due to his long tenure with Chatham’s contracted Water and Sewer Operations vendor, Weston & Sampson. Mr. Barr’s career with Weston & Sampson began in 2009 when he was hired as the Assistant Chief Water Operator. Since that time, Mr. Barr has been promoted internally twice, holding the role of Chief Water Operator from 2019 through 2021 and has been Weston & Sampson’s Project Manager since his most recent promotion in 2021. Prior to Tom’s tenure with Weston & Sampson, he was a Water Operator for Earth Tech, which is the company that held Chatham’s Water and Sewer Operations contract at that time, from 1998 through 2009.

Tom resides in Harwich with his wife and two children. He is an assistant coach for the Monomoy High School softball program and also operates a youth softball program called Cape Cod Chaos with over 100 athletes participating.

Tom is already a valued contributor to the Town, with twenty-three years of experience managing Chatham’s water and wastewater systems as well as collaborating with Town and DPW management staff and we welcome him to the team!

Worker in orange vest standing on a large pipe in the ground

Sewer Construction Update

For the Week of June 5th - 9th

Work on sewer laterals is planned on Meetinghouse Road. A Police detail will be in place in the vicinity of the work to assist motorists. Paving is expected on Meetinghouse Road on Friday, June 9th with milling on Thursday, June 8th. A detour may be required at times. Police detail will be in place to direct traffic.

Work is tentatively scheduled on the Meetinghouse Road pump Station and sewer testing on Morton Road.

Preparation for paving is expected at the Municipal Fish Pier lot on Tuesday, June 6th. A detour may be necessary and a Police detail will be in place to assist motorists.

C&I Regional Economic Development

The Massachusetts Executive Office of Economic Development will host a Cape and Islands Regional Planning Session as part of its economic development planning process on Tuesday, June 20th from 1- 3 p.m. at the Community Center, 702 Main Street.

Business and community leaders, elected officials, and members of the public are invited to join and contribute input about economic needs and growth within the region.

The Executive Office of Economic Development and the State's Economic Development Planning Council will be holding a series of these sessions on behalf of the Healey-Driscoll Administration across the Commonwealth this spring and summer to gather public input about the state's economic development needs. The Council will then craft a strategic plan to guide Massachusetts' economic development policy over the next four years.

Chatham Airport Open House June 10, 2023

SCAN ME FOR DETAILS

Shrink Wrap Recycling

Unwrapping your boat soon? Wondering what to do with all that shrink wrap?

Barnstable County, WHOI Sea Grant and participating towns, including Chatham, sponsor a free boat shrink wrap recycling program from April 1st to June 30th. Wrap must be clean and free of all straps, vents, and zippers. Drop off at the Transfer Station. Scan the QR code at left or visit the program website for more information.

2023 Beach Information

Resident/Taxpayer beach stickers and Visitor beach passes will be required at the following guarded beaches from 9 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. from Friday, June 23rd through Sunday, September 3rd: Harding's Beach, Ridgevale Beach; Cockle Cove Beach, School House Pond (Resident/Taxpayer Only).

Parking at the Lighthouse Beach Overlook is limited to 30 minutes. Vehicles displaying any Chatham Resident/Taxpayer sticker or beach Visitor pass may park in designated areas on Bridge Street from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. from July 1st through Labor Day to access Lighthouse Beach.

Resident/Taxpayer stickers and visitor passes are available for purchase online. Resident/Taxpayer stickers are available for purchase at the Sticker Office, Monday-Friday, from 10 a.m. to1 p.m. The Sticker Office is located on the lower level of the Town Office Annex, 261 George Ryder Road.

Chatham beaches are smoke-free per Board of Health regulations. Alcoholic beverages, firearms & fireworks, glass containers, overnight camping, open and/or closed fires are prohibited on Chatham beaches. Please do not enter any areas that are roped off for the protection of nesting shorebirds or other endangered species. Thank you for your compliance!

Tuesday Talks at the Atwood

In October of 2005, Judy Handley and her husband, Mark, left on a life changing journey sailing their 42-foot sailboat Windbird around the world. Join her on Tuesday, June 13th at 5 p.m at the Mural Barn of the Atwood Museum, 347 Stage Harbor Road, and take you own journey across the globe through her lecture, filled with photos and videos from the trip.

Tickets are available by reservation as seating is very limited. Lecture begins promptly at 5:00 PM.

Anglers Opening Home Game June 11 at 7 p.m.

Next Select Board Meeting - June 6, 2023 @ 5:30 p.m.

Interviews Only

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. Interviews

Don Aikman Historical Commission

Sandie Porter Historical Commission

Janet Toenniessen Historical Commission

Robert Stevens Historical Commission

Robert W. Dubis Planning Board

Art Spruch Planning Board

Nancy Koerner Railroad Museum Working Group

Ron Manderscheid Summer Residents Advisory Committee

Peter Gaines Cemetery Commission

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