Community Preservation Committee Public Hearing

The Community Preservation Committee (CPC) will hold a Public Hearing on Monday, October 2, 2023 at 4:00 PM in the small conference room at the Town Office Annex, 261 George Ryder Road to solicit input from Chatham citizens that can help guide the CPC’s decision making on Community Preservation Act (CPA) project proposals.

Chatham adopted the CPA in 2002, approving a 3% property tax surcharge which, combined with funds from the State, support local projects addressing four allowable purposes; open space, historic preservation, outdoor recreation and community housing. Since then, over $24 million has been approved to fund 190 projects in Chatham. This year in May, the Town Meeting approved $2,654,330 to support 12 projects recommended by the CPC. The deadline for submitting applications for CPA funding in 2024 is November 1, 2023. An online application is available. The Chatham CPC welcomes questions, comments and input from all Town residents.

Trees posted on George Ryder Road for Tree Warden hearing

Tree Warden Public Hearings

Chatham's Tree Warden will hold two public hearings on Tuesday, October 3, 2023 at 5:30 p.m. in accordance with MGL Chapter 87 during the regularly scheduled Select Board meeting to hear concerns over proposed shade tree removal. The hearings will be held in the large conference room at the Town Office Annex, 261 George Ryder Road.

One hearing will address proposed tree removal to accommodate a new bike path along the eastern edge of George Ryder Road. The proposed path will connect the existing Old Colony Rail Trail to the multi-use path along the northern side of Route 28. Thirty-two trees of varying size and type are proposed for removal as part of this project. Community Preservation Act funding for this project was approved at 2023 Annual Town Meeting with matching grants from MassTrails.

The other hearing will address the removal of two trees at the Eldredge Public Library, 564 Main Street, to accommodate the implementation of the Eldredge Public Library Site Master Plan project for site access safety improvements approved at the 2018 Annual Town Meeting.

Maps indicating the location of the trees proposed for removal are posted in the Town Offices, 549 Main Street. The trees themselves are posted with notices or tagged with yellow tape.

The public is invited to attend the hearings in-person or via the link in the Select Board's posted agenda.

When it Rains...Be Mosquito Aware

A sample of mosquitoes trapped in Provincetown tested positive this week for Eastern Equine Encephalitis.

With another rainy weekend in our forecast keep in mind that mosquitos are still active and breeding. Please take the time to inspect your property for standing water and dump out any that you find. Use EPA registered repellents and minimize your exposure risk when mosquitoes are most active at dusk by limiting time outdoors or wearing long pants and long sleeved shirts.

Black key on a key ring with a white house shape on an orange background

Community Planning Grant Received

The Town has been awarded an FY24 Community Planning Early Action Grant through the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities’ (EOHLC) Community Planning Grant Program. The grant award, in the amount of $57,000, will be used for consultant services to develop a Housing Needs Assessment, update the Town’s Housing Production Plan, and implement a Community Engagement Plan for this housing planning process.

“We are very pleased to have been selected for an Early Action Grant,” said Town Manager Jill Goldsmith, “and appreciate Governor Healey’s ongoing commitment to address Chatham’s housing needs by providing additional funding specifically earmarked for planning for housing.”

Chatham last updated its Housing Production Plan in 2018. This grant funding will support the development of a new Housing Production Plan that will expand current affordable and attainable housing policies and practices and provide a thorough understanding of current housing conditions and the needs of current and projected populations. A significant component of this Housing Production Plan project will be a current Housing Needs Assessment, including a new section on “attainable” housing need for households that earn between 80% and 200% of Area Median Income.

Funding from the Community Planning Grant Program will support the Town’s efforts to understand our current housing conditions and quantify our affordable and attainable housing need for current and future populations, build consensus in the community through the outreach and engagement process regarding the need for and benefits of affordable and attainable housing, and will provide an implementation plan that identifies specific programmatic components necessary to implement high priority strategies to develop our affordable and attainable housing capacity.

Community outreach and participation are important to this planning process. The Housing Production Plan update process will include significant community outreach and engagement of all stakeholders and will include community forums, community visioning, interviews and focus groups, a survey, and multiple opportunities for participation.

It is hoped that the resulting Housing Production Plan will identify a menu of tools for reducing the housing affordability gap and also provide a set of strategies aimed at assisting the Town in developing its affordable and attainable housing capacity, through a combination of prioritized actions that address the unique needs of Chatham. The HPP will serve as the Town’s primary guide for developing affordable and attainable housing opportunities that will help Chatham meet its housing goals for its residents and workforce. Housing and Sustainability Director Gloria McPherson will serve as the project manager of this housing planning process.

The Town of Chatham anticipates issuing a Request for Proposals for consultant services for the Housing Needs Assessment and Housing Production Plan within the next month.

New Hours, New Online Services

Sticker Office Hours

Beginning the week of September 25th, the Sticker Office will be open on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Transfer Station and Recycling stickers are available through the online portal anytime.

Assessors Payments

The Town continues to expand online services for the convenience of our property owners, businesses, and visitors. Payments for Assessing products - certified abutters lists, special reports, mailing database, and full database - are now available online.

Golden Oldies Film at the Center for Active Living

Public Comment Wanted on Additional Liquor License - Pate's

The MA Joint Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure will accept written testimony through Monday, September 25, 2023 at 5 p.m. on H3968: An Act granting an additional liquor license for the sale of all alcoholic beverages to be drunk on the premise in the Town of Chatham. 

The filing of this Special Legislation was approved with the passage of petitioned Article 45 by 2023 Annual Town Meeting and if passed will provide Pate's Restaurant, 1260 Main Street with a year-round liquor license.

Written testimony may be submitted to the Committee via email.  Please include "H3968 Testimony" in the subject line.

Volunteers Wanted!

Are you looking for a way to become more involved in the future of the Town? Do you have an educational background, professional training, or life experiences that could benefit the work of a Town committee? Do you want to contribute to the community?

Please take a look at the volunteer opportunities we have available! Applications are easy and available online.

Scan or Click Here to Register

Vaccine Clinic Scheduled

The Town will hold a drive through vaccination clinic on Wednesday, October 19th from 10 a.m. to 12 noon at the Public Works facility, 221 Crowell Road.

Flu vaccines and updated COVID-19 vaccines (if available) will be distributed. Registration is available through the QR code and online. $0 co-pay with Medicare and most insurance plans.

Please wear short sleeves or sleeveless shirt, leave your pets at home, and bring your insurance card. If you have any questions contact the Health Division at 508-945-5165.

Small shingled building with fall wreath on white door with a bench in front of it.

Authors Night at South Chatham Library

Support the South Chatham Public Library by attending Authors Night on Sunday, October 1st from 3 p.m. - 5 p.m. at the Community Center, 702 Main Street.

Local authors Anne LeClaire, Bernard Cornwell, and Wendy Rouillard will be discussing their literary works, and signing and selling their books. Hors d'oeuvres and beverages will be served.

Tickets, $50 per person, are available for purchase at the South Chatham Public Library, 2559 Main Street, on Tuesdays and Saturdays from 1 p.m. - 4 p.m.

Next Select Board Meeting - October 3, 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#.

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