Aerial view of a breach in a barrier beach

Notice to Mariners

Navigational Hazard at North Beach Island

Following the Nor’easter on Thursday, May 22, a new breach has formed in the northern section of North Beach Island in Chatham. This development has resulted in significant sand displacement across the existing channel and the creation of a new opening characterized by strong currents and surf conditions. The area is currently unmarked and poses a navigational hazard.

The Chatham Harbormaster’s Office is actively assessing the situation and working to reposition aids to navigation in the safest and deepest waters available.

Mariners are strongly advised to exercise extreme caution when transiting the vicinity of North Beach Island. Those with concerns or seeking updated information are encouraged to contact the Chatham Harbormaster’s Office at 508-945-5185.

Tire tracks in sand on a beach next to water

North Beach Closed to OSVs

Due to estimated hatch dates, Chatham’s portion of Nauset/North Beach closed to Over Sand Vehicle (OSV) travel at 8:00 a.m. today, Friday, May 30th, to protect unfledged piping plovers.

The Town of Orleans is scheduled to close Nauset Beach South at 11 PM on Sunday June 1st. That timing may change. Please continue to check their Facebook account for updates.

All regulations regarding restrictions on access to endangered species habitat areas, dogs, and other beach regulations remain in full force.

We appreciate the public’s cooperation in maintaining beach access.

Community Climate Survey

The Town of Chatham’s Energy and Climate Action Committee (ECAC), in collaboration with the Chatham Climate Action Network (CCAN), has launched a Community Climate Survey to gather input on local climate change impacts and resulting risks, and mitigation actions.

This survey is part of the Town’s ongoing climate action planning efforts and is designed to understand residents’ and stakeholders’ views on the challenges posed by climate change, as well as actions the Town and individuals have taken—or may take—to address these risks.

“The feedback we receive from this survey will help guide our planning and ensure that our climate strategies are informed by the concerns and priorities of the Chatham community,” said ECAC Chair Bob Wirtshafter.

This is the first of two planned surveys. It focuses on:

Community perceptions of climate change impacts and resulting risks in Chatham
Actions that could be taken to reduce those risks
Current and potential efforts by the Town and individuals to address climate change

A second survey, which will be released at a later date, will focus on energy use and strategies to reduce individual energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.

The ECAC and CCAN encourage all residents, business owners, and interested stakeholders to take part in this important information-gathering effort. Your input will be invaluable in helping shape a more sustainable, resilient future for Chatham. The survey will be available through July 20th.

Stylized tern next to a sand dune with Cape Cod National Seashore

Representative to CC National Seashore Advisory Committee Sought

The Town encourages residents interested in serving as the Town’s representative to the Cape Cod National Seashore Federal Advisory Commission to submit their application for consideration by the Select Board.

The Advisory Commission consults with the Secretary of the Interior or their designee with respect to matters relating to the development of the Cape Cod National Seashore, including matters of acquisition by condemnation and zoning regulations.

Representatives to the Advisory Commission serve two-year terms and are nominated by the Select Board for appointment by the Department of the Interior.

Candidates must attach to their application a resume including home address, business address if applicable, phone numbers, email address, and date of birth.

Transfer Station Swap Shop Open for the Season

Friday- Monday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Recycling Only or Transfer Station sticker required.

Clean items in good condition only, no garbage, must be usable.

Sorry, the Swap Shop cannot accept electronics, baby car seats, cribs, highchairs, mattresses, upholstered items, rugs, particleboard furniture, broken/chipped dishes, small appliances, moldy books, or tires.

Let’s keep good usable items out of the waste stream!

Town Manager's Monthly Report

For an in-depth look at the workings of all Town Departments, check out the Town Manager's Monthly Report for April 2025.

Statistics, graphics, and narratives tell the story of what Team Chatham accomplished in the last month. The report includes updates on on-going projects, current happenings, and spotlights employee anniversaries, new hires and promotions.

Blessing of the Fleet June 1st at the Fish Pier

Select Board and Town Manager seated at the dais in the large meeting room

Select Board Action – May 27th

The Select Board opened its meeting with a public hearing to consider a petition from NSTAR d/b/a Eversource Energy to install one (1) handhole 48/H23-5A and 40’ +/- 1-2” conduit to a customer installed handhole 48/H23-5B to provide new underground service to the customer located at 351 Barn Hill Road. With no comments from the public, the Board approved the petition.

The Board issued a proclamation honoring the 100^th Anniversary of Puritan Clothing Company in Chatham.

A posted agenda item to consider a Special One Day Alcohol License for Oktoberfest 2025 was delayed to a future date.

Harbormaster Jason Holm requested the Board consider sending a Letter of Comment in response to United States Coast Guard’s proposed changes to local Aids to Navigation including buoy removal. He said the Coast Guard had suggested a similar change a few years ago but after surrounding communities submitted letters in opposition, they did not take action. He drafted a letter to the Coast Guard that may be used as a template for correspondence from the Board or other interested parties. The Board agreed to send a letter of opposition to US Coast Guard District 1, with copies to Senators Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey, Representative William Keating, and our State legislators Senator Julian Cyr and Representative Hadley Luddy.

The Board encouraged anyone interested in serving as the Town’s representative to the Cape Cod National Seashore Federal Advisory Commission to contact the Town Manager’s Office (see below). The Town’s Coastal Resilience Director Catherine Ricks was nominated to serve as the Town’s Alternate representative.

The Select Board appointed Shareen Davis as the Select Board’s representative to the Affordable Housing Trust Fund Board of Trustees. The Board chose to honor the sentiment of Town Meeting’s recent vote for a bylaw amendment and appointed only one Select Board member to the Trust.

Town Manager Jill Goldsmith reviewed current items from her monthly report for April 2025. She noted the Board’s summer schedule dates and the anniversaries of long-serving employees. She encouraged the public to submit Public Works requests through the Town website.

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

Sticker Office Hours - June

The Sticker Office at the Town Office Annex, 261 George Ryder Road, will be open on Mondays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.; Tuesdays - Fridays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.; and on Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. throughout the month of June.

Celebrating Our History

The Town joins with Historic Chatham member organizations in celebrating our community’s history throughout the month of June

The Chatham Railroad Museum, 153 Depot Street, will open for the season on June 10th and will be open to visitors Tuesdays through Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (except July 4th) through Labor Day.

Don't miss the Incorporation Day event on June 11th at 10 a.m. on the front lawn of the Eldredge public Library to commemorate the anniversary of the incorporation of the village of Monomoit as the town of Chatham in 1712.

On June 21st the Godfrey Windmill located in Chase Park will be grinding corn (weather permitting) from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. as it did from 1797 to 1907.

On June 26th Railroad Museum Co-Director Gil Sparks will join Amy Andreasson, Director of the Eldredge Public Library, for a special presentation on the life and legacy of Chatham native Marcellus Eldredge who was the largest shareholder and president of the Chatham Railroad Company and who gifted the Library to the Town in 1896. The presentation begins at 5 p.m. at the Library.

June 26th is also the date of a ribbon cutting for the recently completed RCA/Marconi Trail at Ryder’s Cove (rain date June 27th). Remarks will begin at 4:15 p.m.

The Railroad Museum will be running O gauge model railroad trains on June 27th & 28th. Stop by to enjoy the trains, tour the caboose, and learn about the role the Chatham Railroad played in Chatham’s history.

For a complete list of events visit the Historic Chatham website.

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 meeting on Tuesday, beginning at 5:30 p.m., in the large meeting room at the Town Office Annex, 261 George Ryder Road.

June 3rd

To consider a petition from Verizon New England Inc. and NSTAR Electric Company d/b/a Eversource Energy to install one (1) new midspan pole numbered 48/23.5, located one hundred-six (106) feet North of existing pole numbered 48/24 on Barn Hill Road. Verizon is proposing to use one (2M) cable attachment on the proposed pole along Barn Hill Road. This petition is necessary to support permanent power at the request of a resident located at 351 Barn Hill Road in Chatham, MA.

To consider a petition from Verizon New England Inc. and NSTAR Electric Company d/b/a Eversource Energy to install one (1) new pole numbered 51/6.5, located twenty (20) feet east of existing pole numbered 51/7, directly southeast of the intersection of Depot Road and Hitching Post Road. The proposed pole will fall approximately four (4) feet south of the sidewalk, adjacent to Chatham Veterans Field. This petition is being requested by Eversource to increase the height of cables on the proposed and nearby poles, as well as provide for the distribution of intelligence and telecommunications and the transmission of high and low voltage electric current.

June 10th

To consider increases to the current list of Town of Chatham Transfer Station fees as follows:

9-11 bags of garbage, increase from $15 to $20
Commercial Garbage, increase from $90/T to $175/T
Commercial Single Stream Recycling, increase from $110/T to $150/T
Chair (upholstered), increase from $5/ea. to $15/ea.
Demolition/Construction Debris, increase from $190/T to $225/T
Mattresses & Box Springs, increase from $30/ea. to $50/ea.
Sofa, increase from $15/ea. to $30/ea.
Large Truck Tires, increase from $15/ea. to $20/ea.
Fire Extinguishers, increase from $2/ea. to $10/ea.

And to consider establishing a new category of Transfer Station Fees:

Crib Mattresses, establish this item and charge $10/ea.

Interested parties are encouraged to participate in-person or through the links in the meetings’ posted agendas.

Yellow triangular "Area Closed" sign on a beach

Shore Bird Report

Virtually all Town beaches are home to nesting piping plovers. The earliest eggs are estimated to hatch in the next day or two but unfortunately, some original nests were lost, and plovers have renested in some areas.

American Oystercatchers are present at a limited number of beaches and Terns have been sighted at all public beaches with colonies established on several.

Dogs (leashed and unleashed) and dog tracks continue to be reported on many of our beaches. Please respect the seasonal prohibition of dogs on our beaches which is effective annually on May 1st. The prohibition protects endangered shore birds and mitigates public health concerns related to contamination and water quality.

Person in orange vest standing on a large pipe in the ground with an excavator in the background

Sewer Construction Update

Work for the week of June 2^nd – June 6^th

Oyster Pond Sewer Extension Project

Continued sewer and water work is planned on Kelley Lane. Local traffic only. Police detail(s) will be on-site and signage in place to assist residents.

Stage Harbor Sewer Extension Project

Site work is planned to continue at the pumping station site (Old Mill Boat Yard/Harbormasters Garage).

Mill Pond Pump Station

Site work is planned at the Mill Pond pumping station site (85 Mill Pond Road). Road closures are planned for Mill Pond Road and Homestead Lane, local traffic only.

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

Hepatitis A Alert

The Barnstable County Department of Health and Environment investigators have identified a Hepatitis A case in a food handler who worked at The Red Inn in Provincetown.

Patrons who dined at The Red Inn between April 30 and May 15 may have been exposed.

If you dined at the Inn during that time frame, contact your doctor as soon as possible to ask if a Hepatitis A vaccine or immune globulin is recommended. To be effective at preventing disease from this exposure, these must be given within 14 days.

Questions? Call your healthcare provider or the Massachusetts Department of Public Health at (617) 983-6800. You can also leave a message with the Barnstable County CARE (Community Access to Resources and Education) Line at (774) 330-3001. Contact tracers are monitoring this line closely and will return calls as soon as possible.

Housing under construction at 107 Main Street in Orleans

Affordable Housing Opportunity

The Housing Assistance Corp. (HAC) will release lottery applications for affordable rental apartments located at 107 Main Street in Orleans on June 1st.

The project is on track to be completed in October 2025 and the units will be a mix of 9 one -bedroom, 4 two-bedroom, and 1 three-bedroom unit. All units will be restricted for households below 80% of the county median income and meet state standards for inclusion on the Subsidized Housing Inventory (SHI). One unit will be fully handicap accessible.

HAC will hold two information sessions on the property and application process on Wednesday, June 18th and Monday, July 14th with lottery applications due July 31st.

For more information on income limits, rent, and to access the application, visit https://haconcapecod.org/properties/107-main-street/.

Cape Light Compact’s New Power Supply Rates

The Cape Light Compact has set its new power supply rates for residential commercial and industrial properties for July 2025 – January 2026. These new rates are effective on July meter reads which will be reflected in bills customers receive in August.

While the Compact’s residential supply rate is more than 1.5 cents per kWh lower than Eversource’s residential price for the upcoming term, it is over a cent per kWh higher than its current rate. This is in part due to typically higher power prices in the July through January time frame. In addition, natural gas prices have increased slightly due to supply and demand dynamics within the US and abroad.

If you have questions or would like to learn more about power supply options visit the Compact’s website or call 1-800-381-9192.

Gold concentric circles above Cape Cod Commission

Cape Cod Commission’s Route 6A Transportation Visioning Study

The Cape Cod Commission invites members of the public to get involved with the ongoing Route 6A Transportation Visioning Study and to share their experiences along the roadway using the online public comment tool or attend an upcoming public meeting.

A nationally designated scenic byway, Route 6A serves as a vital corridor where people live, work, and travel. However, the roadway currently lacks safe and accessible options for walking, biking, and other forms of transportation. In cooperation with the adjacent towns and the Massachusetts Department of Transportation, the Commission is conducting a two-year study to explore ways to improve safety along the corridor while protecting its unique character.

In the first year, the study will focus on reviewing and collecting existing data such as traffic counts, vehicle speeds, crash records, roadway plans, and previous studies, and conducting public outreach. In the second year, the study will identify opportunities and constraints related to future roadway and multimodal improvements that both enhance safety and maintain Route 6A’s scenic and historic qualities.

Public participation is a key component of this study. All users of the roadway are invited to share their experiences and let us know what matters most when it comes to improving the function of this historic roadway for all users while preserving its beauty and local charm.

There are several ways to share your feedback, including attending an upcoming meeting or using the online public comment tool.

Public meetings are scheduled:

Wednesday, June 11, 2025, 6:00 PM (Hybrid)
In Person: Cape Cod Commission Ocean Conference Room
3225 Main Street, Barnstable MA
Virtual: www.capecodcommission.org/transportation/join passcode: join
Phone: Dial (929) 205 6099 Meeting ID: 932 6393 2207

Monday, June 16, 2025, 5:00 PM
Provincetown Town Hall
260 Commercial Street, Provincetown MA

Tuesday, June 17, 2025, 5:00 PM
Brewster Town Hall
2198 Main Street, Brewster MA

For more information, please visit www.capecodcommission.org/6A-Visioning

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.