Rob Franz in uniform standing beside the World War I Memorial

Yellow triangular sign which reads Area Closed due to nesting shorebirds.

Please Respect Closed Areas

With warmer weather and a long weekend ahead, please remember to stay out of areas of Harding’s, Lighthouse, Forest, Ridgevale and Cockle Cove Beaches which have been fenced off for the protection of nesting shorebirds.

As of May 22nd there are 25 pairs of piping plovers and 16 nests reported on Town beaches. Least terns have also been reported on all Town beaches, as well.

Unfortunately, dog tracks have been reported inside some fenced areas. Remember even a good dog can scare the birds. Please respect the fencing and signage!

Five people standing in front of a mural with one holding a plaque.

Community Preservation Awards

The 2024 Historic Preservation Awards were presented to selected property owners on Saturday, May 18th at the Atwood House Museum.

Sponsored jointly since 2004 by the Town of Chatham Historical Commission, the Town of Chatham Historic Business District Commission, and The Chatham Historical Society, the Awards honor noteworthy efforts by local property owners and others to preserve and maintain historic residences and other important historic resources.

This year’s recipients:

49 Cross Street, The Theodore H. Bearse House, Owners Steven & Adrienne Principe
57 Water Street, The Captain Leander Gould House, Owners Tom & Lisa Leahy
178 Queen Anne Road, The Seth Taylor House, Owner Nancy Ferry

Gold cod fish in a blue circle with County of Barnstable Massachusetts in a white circle around it

Needs Assessment Focus Group

The Barnstable County Department of Health and Environment and the local Health Departments of Brewster, Chatham, Harwich and Orleans are working with a research firm to conduct a community health needs assessment of the towns on the Lower Cape.

A focus group to inform that assessment is scheduled with the Chatham Board of Health on Monday, June 3rd beginning at 4 p.m. in the Large Meeting Room at the Town Office Annex, 261 George Ryder Road. This is an opportunity for members of the community to share their ideas, thoughts, insights, and concerns about community health and related service needs.

Please take part in this vital discussion and share your experiences about health and wellbeing while living in this unique area. Remote access will be available through the link posted on https://www.mytowngovernment.org/02633.

Adult Behavioral Health Community Services Clinician Office Hours

Our Adult Behavioral Health Community Services Clinician Diane Nash, LICSW will hold office hours at two locations to better serve the needs of our community.

If you need help managing stress, anxiety, or depression to improve your emotional well-being; adopting healthier lifestyle strategies; finding social support; or dealing with health management challenges you can meet with Diane on Tuesdays, from 12 noon to 4 p.m., at the Police Station, 269 George Ryder Road and on Thursdays, from 12 noon to 4 p.m., at the Center for Active Living, 193 Stony Hill Road. Walk-ins are welcome or contact Diane via email to arrange a specific time and date to meet.

Chatham Town Seal with silhouette of a speaker at a podium inside it

Public Hearing Notices

The Select Board will hold the following public hearings during its regularly scheduled meetings beginning at 5:30 p.m. in the large meeting room at the Town Office Annex, 261 George Ryder Road.

Remote participation is available through the link in the posted agendas.

June 4, 2024

To consider a request for a Change of Manager from Drewry McMullen to Shannon Neal on the Annual All Alcoholic Beverages Restaurant license for OneDrop Operating, LLC d/b/a The Chatham Squire, 489 Main Street. All interested parties are encouraged to participate.

June 18, 2024

To consider changes to the Town of Chatham’s Local Alcoholic Beverages Licensing Regulations, Section VI. Application Procedure; Amendments to Existing Licenses, to codify local requirements for extensions of existing licensed premises to outdoor areas due to changes in Massachusetts General Law.

Ask the Town Manager

Do you have a question for Town Manager Jill Goldsmith about Town government or are curious about how or why it works the way it does? Are you interested to know the status of a project? Please email your question to Shanna Nealy and we will use this space to bring the answers to you.

Council on Aging 50th Anniversary

The Council on Aging (COA) is kicking off its 50th year of serving our community's older adults with an Open House on Thursday, June 6th, from 4-6 p.m. at the Center for Active Living, 193 Stony Hill Road.

Stop by for a tour of the building, learn about the programs and services offered by the COA, connect with with others, and celebrate 50 years of community care. Light refreshments will be served.

Person standing at a counter with the word PERMITS spelled out on the wall above

Sticker Office Hours Update

Beginning Saturday, June 1st, the Sticker Office will be open Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. and on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. The Office will be open two Saturdays, June 22nd and 29th, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Remember you can skip the line and order your beach and transfer station stickers online too!

Dock what? No, Dockwa.

The Harbormaster's Office has moved the process to reserve transient moorings for visiting boaters online through Dockwa, a free online app that connects boaters and marinas.

Visiting boaters will now be able to reserve and pay for rental of the Town's 17 transient moorings located in Stage Harbor from their phone, laptop or tablet with just a few clicks. The automation of the online system will reduce paperwork and save Harbormaster staff time and facilitate the identification of short-term mooring availability for the boating public. If you have friends or family visiting by boat this summer point them to the Dockwa app for transient mooring reservations!

The names of the 2024 Atlantic Hurricanes

Atlantic Hurricane Season Starts June 1st

As we approach the start of hurricane season, it's essential to be proactive and prepared for any potential storms that may impact our region. Take the necessary steps to prepare now, to ensure the safety and well-being of yourselves, your families, and your neighbors.

Make a Plan:

Create a comprehensive hurricane preparedness plan for you and your family. This plan should include evacuation routes, a meeting point in case you get separated, and a communication strategy to stay in touch with loved ones during emergencies. Assign responsibilities to each family member and ensure everyone is aware of the plan.

Build a Kit:

Assemble a well-stocked emergency kit that can sustain you and your family for at least three days. This kit should include essential items such as:

Non-perishable food and a manual can opener
Bottled water (one gallon per person per day)
First aid supplies and necessary medications
Flashlights and extra batteries
Important documents in waterproof containers (identification, insurance papers, etc.)
Personal hygiene items and sanitation supplies
Cash (ATMs might not be accessible during power outages)
Basic tools and a battery-operated or hand-crank radio
Extra clothing and sturdy footwear

Stay Informed:

Stay informed about the latest weather updates, storm forecasts, and evacuation orders. Register for local emergency alerts and follow credible sources such as the National Hurricane Center and your local meteorological services. Keep your smartphones charged and consider investing in a portable battery charger.

Taking steps to prepare now ensures the safety and well-being of yourselves, your families, and your neighbors.

Father son laser tag at the Community Center June 17th

Public Comment Sought on CEDS

The Cape Cod Commission has released the draft 2024 Cape Cod Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) for a 21-day public comment period.

The CEDS is a five-year strategic plan for economic development on Cape Cod. The plan is updated every five years in collaboration with the Barnstable County Economic Development Council (BCEDC) and local and regional stakeholders. It defines an action plan with priority projects to move Cape Cod's economy toward a sustainable future.

The 2024 CEDS envisions a strong and vibrant Cape Cod: a resilient, inclusive, and diverse year-round community with access to housing options, high-quality business, education, and employment opportunities, and thriving natural resources, building upon the historic and unique characteristics that have drawn people to the region for centuries.

The CEDS contains six goals that focus on housing attainability, community, infrastructure, natural resources, workforce development, and economic diversity and resiliency. The action plan includes incentivizing year-round housing, simplifying appropriate housing development, supporting year-round community activity and civic engagement, providing spaces for organizations and entrepreneurs to pilot ideas, developing and connecting students and workers to educational and training opportunities, identifying and supporting growing industries, investing in water quality and wastewater infrastructure, investing in broadband infrastructure, and advocating for the canal bridges replacement.

Learn more and view the draft document by visiting www.capecodcommission.org/ceds.

Comments will be accepted through Wednesday, June 5, 2024.

Informational and public comment opportunities for the CEDS will be held on the following dates:

Tuesday, May 28, 2024: Virtual public meeting, 5:00 PM
Friday, May 31, 2024: Virtual public meeting, 11:00 AM

Virtual meetings can be accessed by visiting https://capecodcommission.org/ceds/join or calling in to (929) 205-6099 and entering meeting ID 861 1712 7240.

Comments may be submitted via online form, via email, or by mail to: Cape Cod Commission, PO Box 226, 3225 Main Street, Barnstable, MA 02630.

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.

Town of Chatham website www.chatham-ma.gov

Memorial Day Observance