Half Staff Notification

Please be advised that Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey has ordered that the United States of America flag and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts flag be lowered to half-staff at all state buildings from sunrise until sunset on Sunday, October 20, 2024, the date of day of funeral honors, of Private Second Class Damian Marble, United States Army, of Orange, Massachusetts, who passed away on Friday, September 20, 2024.

This gubernatorial order applies to:

1. The main or administration building of each public institution of the Commonwealth, e.g. town and city halls
2. Other state-owned or state-controlled buildings
3. All state military installations

Select Board Action, October 15th

At its meeting on October 15th, Select Board received an update from the Cemetery Commissioners who expressed concerns about personnel and contractor challenges, and the resources dedicated to maintaining the Town’s cemeteries. Quinn Foreman, Cemetery Administrator, noted his work to digitize the Town’s burial records.

Public Works Director Rob Faley provided an update and project status report on the Town’s drinking water wells and treatment plants. He noted that although the alarms have sounded six times in September for low levels in the storage tanks, the levels have not been as low as in the summer months. He said the low levels occur on Monday, Wednesday, and Fridays and are likely associated with irrigation systems. He noted that the Town has no information on the water service lines for approximately 1600 properties and that information will be pursued over the next few years. He noted an improvement in groundwater levels after recent rain events.

Maggie Downey, Administrator of the Cape Light Compact, reviewed the Compact’s 3-year energy efficiency plan for 2024-2027. She noted that 570 Chatham account holders participated in the energy efficiency programs in calendar year 2023. She reviewed the low interest loan programs available to residential and commercial properties through the Compact.

The Board accepted a donation of a memorial bench from the family of Brian Thompson which will be placed at the 9^th hole of Seaside Links Municipal Golf Course.

After extensive discussion on the language of the donation agreement, the Board took no action on the donation of road plates to the Town, which are in place on Morris Island Road at the flood gate, from the owner of 97 Tilipi Run, who is having extensive work on his property’s revetment that requires tons of boulders be delivered. The Conservation Commission required the owner make road plates available to the Town in their mitigation plan for the property. Staff was instructed to see if language in the donation agreement could be further amened.

The Board considered amendments to the Town’s Budget and Financial Policy as proposed by Select Board Vice Chair Dean Nicastro to limit the ability of the Town to rely on the passage of a ballot question seeking a debt exclusion under Proposition 2½ at an election that occurs before a Town Meeting. The Finance Committee recommended the adoption of the amended language. After discussion, the Board rejected the amendments by a vote of 2 in favor, 3 against.

The Board considered changing its Meeting Public Participation Policy to allow the public to comment on each agenda item concurrently with the Board as requested by Select Board Member Cory Metters. After discussion and input from the public, the Board rejected the amendments by a vote of 2 in favor, 3 against.

The Board took no action on a request from Select Board Member Cory Metters to limit Select Board officers’ service on other Town Boards/Committees.

The Board will schedule an additional meeting in the coming weeks to hold a working session to review the make-up and charges of Town committees as is required annually by the Town’s Home Rule Charter.

The meeting can be viewed in its entirety in Chatham TV's on-demand archive.

Air Quality Sensors Coming to Town

The Health Division of the Department of Natural Resources has been awarded a Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MADEP) grant of five air quality sensors under the Massachusetts Air Sensor Grant Program. The sensors will detect and map particulate matter, one of the pollutants that negatively impact air quality.

Data from the sensors will be posted on a real-time map hosted by sensor manufacturer PurpleAir and on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) AirNow Fire & Smoke Map together with data collected from air quality monitors operated by MassDEP and other government agencies.

As there are currently only three air sensors located on Cape (1 in Sandwich and 2 in Falmouth), Director of Natural Resources Greg Berman says the addition of sensors in Chatham will help fill the information gap in the Cape’s air quality data.

Locations considered for installation include the Town Offices at 549 Main Street, the Transfer Station or Water Pollution Control Facility in West Chatham, the Water Treatment facility off Morton Road in South Chatham, the Town Office Annex or Municipal Airport on George Ryder Road, and either the Municipal Fish Pier or Harbormaster’s Office. Final locations will be determined by availability of electrical service, strength of Wi-Fi signal, and appropriate mounting location 7-30 feet above the ground.

Health Agent Judith Giorgio notes the importance providing information on our air quality to residents and visitors, particularly after experiencing diminished air quality due to wildfires in Canada last year. 

A full description of the sensors and particulate matter pollution is available on the PurpleAir website at https://www2.purpleair.com.

Faith & Blue Trunk or Treat

Grab a costume and the kids and head over to the Brewster Baptist Church, 1848 Main Street, Brewster from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, October 26^th for Trunk or Treating with officers of the Chatham, Brewster, Harwich, and Orleans Police Departments. 

The event is part of the Faith & Blue initiative which aims to build safer, stronger, and unified communities by fostering partnerships between law enforcement, residents, businesses and community groups through the connections of local faith-based organizations.

Comments on Downtown Parking & Circulation Study Posted

The Parking Soultions Working Group received an update from the Cape Cod Commission on its study of Chatham's Downtown Parking and Circulation on Friday, October 18th.

The Commission has posted all comments received at its Downtown Parking and Circulation Forum held on July 30th, during the following three-week comment period, and those posted to the Town's social media accounts for the public's information.

The Commission anticipates submitting a draft report on its finding this fall for the review with a final report to be completed this winter.

Water Storage Tank Maintenance Ahead

The Water Division will be conducting exterior power washing of our water storage tanks in conjunction with annual safety and security inspections as required by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MADEP).

The work is weather dependent and is anticipated to begin in late October and last into early November. Abutters to the tanks received hand delivered notice last week.

Please contact the Water Division at 508-945-5150 with questions or concerns.