American flag flying at half staff against a blue sky

Half Staff Notification

Please be advised that, in accordance with a Presidential Proclamation marking the death of Charlie Kirk, Governor Maura T. Healey has ordered the United States of America flag and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts flag be lowered to half-staff at all state buildings, until sunset on September 14, 2025.

This observance shall be concurrent with the ongoing half-staff display of the United States of America flag and Commonwealth of Massachusetts flag.

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

Community Climate Event on September 25th

The Town of Chatham invites residents, businesses, and community organizations to a special Community Climate Event on September 25, 2025, from 4:00–6:00 PM at the Chatham Community Center.

“Climate Impacts in Chatham: Understanding & Managing the Risks” will highlight how climate change is already affecting the community, what lies ahead, and the steps the Town and its residents can take to prepare.

This free event will feature presentations from experts at the Woods Hole Group and Chatham’s own resilience leaders. Topics will include:

● The latest science on climate impacts and risks, including changing weather patterns, sea-level rise, and flood risks.

● Best available flood risk maps and projections for Chatham

● Actions the Town has taken—and is planning—to strengthen resilience and protect the community.

● Results from the recent Community Climate Survey, showing how organizations, businesses, and residents are already responding.

Featured Speakers:

● Chris Gloninger, Senior Climate Scientist, Woods Hole Group

● Joe Famely, Climate & Sustainability Team Lead, Woods Hole Group

● Greg Berman, Town of Chatham Natural Resources Director

● Catherine Ricks, Town of Chatham Coastal Resilience Director

Following the presentations, there will be an open Q&A session to engage the community and discuss priorities for the next phase of Chatham’s climate action planning, including possible wetlands regulations changes for 2026.

Officer Kenton Frenking sitting in the passenger seat of a Chatham Police cruiser smiling out the window

Congratulations to Officer Frenking!

Please join us in congratulating Police Officer Kenton W. Frenking upon his graduation as member of the 78th Recruit Officers' Class of the Massachusetts Municipal Police Training Committee's (MPTC) Plymouth Police Academy on Friday, September 5th.

Officer Frenking was appointed as Chatham’s newest Police Officer on April 7th provisional upon completion of the Academy. He will now begin his internal Field Training Program with the Chatham Police Department.

Officer Frenking holds two Bachelor's Degrees. One from the University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth, for Pre-Law, 2024, and the second from Coastal Carolina University, South Carolina, for Intelligence and Homeland Security, 2019.

Officer Frenking is a United States Army veteran, most recently serving as a Platoon Leader, for the 2-11th ACR, where he received several awards and commendations. He also served as an ROTC instructor while at Coastal Carolina University.

We wish officer Frenking a long, safe and successful career!

The Town is hiring a Boat Operator/Marine Mechanic

A man in a dark blue golf shirt with short brown hair standing outdoors with green trees in the background

Welcome to the Team!

Andrew Grover joins the Health Division in the Department of Natural Resources on Monday, September 15th as our newest Health Inspector.

Andy comes to Chatham from Ryder & Wilcox, Inc. where he has worked as a Registered Sanitarian since 2008. Prior to that he was employed as an Apprentice Septic Designer/Installer from 2005 to 2008.

He has a Bachelor of Science in Earth and Geographic Science, Magna Cum Laude, from the University of Massachusetts and hold certifications as a Registered Sanitarian, Approved Soil Evaluator, Approved Title 5 System Inspector and Wastewater Treatment Operator.

Welcome to Team Chatham, Andy!

Cartoon image of toxic bottles and poison cans

Household Hazardous Waste Collection

The next household hazardous waste collections will be held tomorrow Saturday, September 12th at the Harwich Transfer Station, 209 Queen Anne Road, Harwich from 9 a.m. to 12 noon.

Got old oil paints, cleaners, lawn chemicals, or random mystery bottles you forgot you owned? Don’t toss them in the trash—bring them to the collection and help keep Cape Cod’s drinking water clean!

Bonus! Getting rid of this stuff also helps keep our first responders safe. In a fire or flood, those chemicals can explode or cause serious harm. Safe disposal = safer homes AND safer communities.

For a run-down of what is and is not accepted visit www.loveyourlocalwater.org.

Ribbon cutting at the Barnstable County Clean Water Center on September 28 at 12 p.m , 4 Kittridge Road, Sandwich, MA

Emergency Preparedness Month

Stay Informed

The best way to stay informed about events that may potentially threaten life and property is to subscribe to the Town’s Smart911 emergency notification system. Subscribers receive information via phone call and/or text message in emergency situations.

In addition to subscribing to Smart911, you can stay informed of potential emergency events, and the Town’s response and recovery to any emergency events, by following the Town’s social media accounts.

The Town of Chatham has Facebook, X (Formerly Twitter), and Instagram social media accounts.

Within the Town, the Council on Aging, Fire/Rescue Department, Police Department, and Recreation & Beaches Division have Facebook accounts. The Police Department also has a X account, the Council on Aging also has a YouTube and Instagram account, and Chatham TV has a YouTube account.

Stylized fish with head and tail and body made of CCC

Cultural Council Accepting Applications

The Chatham Cultural Council is accepting applications for grants for 2026 through October 16th. The mission of the Chatham Cultural Council is to promote a rich and diverse life by supporting programs, events, and performances that encourage critical thinking, creativity, and community building.

Grants should benefit the citizens of Chatham and surrounding communities and should promote programs and venues that serve large groups in our communities. School aged children and activities related to learning will be given a high priority. Programs and events that enrich our seniors will also be given high priority. Events that include all citizens of our community will be given special consideration.

Applications must be completed online at the Massachusetts Cultural Council’s website https://massculturalcouncil.smartsimple.com where information on the application guidelines and process is available.

Preschool Soccer Offered by the Recreation and Beaches Division is at 11 a.m. on Saturdays beginning September 20

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 meetings on Tuesdays, beginning at 5:00 p.m., in the large meeting room at the Town Office Annex, 261 George Ryder Road.

September 16

To consider installation of two (2) rapid flashing beacons on Sam Ryder Road at the intersection of Sam Ryder Road and the Old Colony Rail Trail.

To consider a request for a new Seasonal All Alcoholic Beverages Restaurant license for CCNY, LLC. d/b/a Pain d’Avignon, Mario Mariani, Manager. The owners are seeking this license in addition to the Annual Wine and Malt Only Beverages Restaurant license already in place at this location.

All interested parties are encouraged to attend in-person or through the link in the posted agenda.

Teal hand holding a syringe with a virus icon in a red crossed out circle

Drive Thru Vaccination Clinics - October

The VNA of Cape Cod, in collaboration with the Chatham Health Department, will be offering two drive thru vaccination clinics to Chatham residents at the Public Works facility, 221 Crowell Road on Wednesday, October 15th from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. and Thursday, October 23rd from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.

COVID-19 vaccines will be available for individuals 12 years of age and older and flu vaccines will be available for those 6 months and older.

Please reach out to the VNA of Cape Cod at 508-957-7737 with any questions. Registration is required and may be completed by clicking on your preferred date above.

Aerial photo showing the Cape Cod Canal and the Bourne and Sagamore Bridges

Cape Cod Bridges Project

The Massachusetts Department of Transportation has filed the draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR)for the replacement of the Cape Cod Bridges with the Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act Office. The filing of this comprehensive document represents a significant milestone in the advancement of the Cape Cod Bridges Project. The document includes the Healey-Driscoll Administration's proposed decision to extend the construction of Sandwich Road safety improvements, including a shared use path to the Gallo Ice Arena, in response to requests from Bourne residents and local officials.

The future path will now extend the length of the path further along Sandwich Road, providing a safe travel option for bicyclists and pedestrians from the Upper Cape Cod Technical High School to Gallo Ice Arena.

The DEIR will be available for public review in the September 10th edition of the Environmental Monitor. MassDOT requested an extension of the public comment period from 30 to 44 days to ensure the public has sufficient time to review and comment on the document. The MEPA Office will accept public comments through October 24, 2025, and expects a certificate on the draft on October 31, 2025.

A DEIR Open House will also be held at the Bourne Veteran's Memorial Community Center, on Thursday, September 25, from 3 p.m., through 7 p.m.

Public comments can be submitted through the MEPA Public Comment Portal, by email to: Nicholas.Moreno@mass.gov, or via U.S. mail to: Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs, Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA), Attn: MEPA Office, Nicholas Moreno, 100 Cambridge Street, Suite 900, Boston MA 02114. Please reference EEA# 16695 in all correspondence.

While the original intent was to submit a single, joint environmental document addressing both state (MEPA) and federal (National Environmental Policy Act, NEPA) requirements, MassDOT has opted to file the DEIR first, followed by the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) under NEPA. This phased approach is designed to provide the public with ample opportunity to review and comment on each document individually, ensuring a thorough and transparent environmental review process.

The Federal Highway Administration anticipates publishing Notice of Availability of the DEIS in the Federal Register in late summer/early fall 2025 which will initiate a 45-day public comment period. As part of the DEIS public comment period, Cooperating Agencies will also review and identify any additional information needed for federal and state permits or approvals. FHWA and MassDOT will host one public meeting on the DEIS no sooner than 14 days following publication of the Notice of Availability. Details including date, time and location of the DEIS public meeting will be provided at least two weeks before the event.

Affordable Home Opportunity

The Housing Assistance Corporation (HAC) is offering five new affordable homes in East Falmouth by lottery.

Bigelow Landing, located on Waquoit Highway, consists of a mix of 2- and 3-bedroom homes at varying price points available for purchase by first-time homebuyers with applicable income and asset limitations.

A virtual information session will be held on Wednesday, September 17th at 6 p.m. via Zoom and will cover the application process and provide details on these affordable homes. Attendance is not required but encouraged.

The deadline to apply for the lottery is Friday, November 14th at 5 p.m.

Next Select Board Meeting - September 16, 2025 @ 5:00 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#.

I. Minutes

A. June 24, 2025

B. July 22, 2025

C. August 5, 2025

D. September 2, 2025

II. Public Announcements and Agenda Item Requests

III. Public Hearings

A. Consider Installation of Two (2) Rapid Flashing Beacons on Sam Ryder Road at the Intersection of Sam Ryder Road and the Old Colony Rail Trail Bike Crossing (Bikeways Committee Request, Recommendation by the Traffic Safety Committee)

B. Consider New Seasonal All Alcoholic Beverages Restaurant License for CCNY, LLC. d/b/a Pain d’Avignon, Mario Mariani, Manager

IV. Consent Agenda

A. Consider Sale of Goods on Town Property; Chatham Men’s Club on October 17, 2025 at the Chatham Community Center

B. Consider Use of Town Property and Sale of Goods on Town Property; Chatham Recreation & Beaches Division Annual Holiday Craft Fair on November 22, 2025 at the Chatham Community Center

V. Chatham Wells, PFAS, and Drinking Water Testing and Pumping Report and Drought Update – August 2025

VI. Public Comments on Business Agenda

VII. Business Agenda

A. Consider Special One-Day Alcohol License for Cape Cod Fishermen’s Alliance Meet the Fleet on October 1, 2025 at 1566 Main Street

B. Consider Special One-Day Alcohol License for Oktoberfest 2025 on October 18, 2025; Chatham Chamber of Commerce and Merchants Association

C. Consider Special One-Day Alcohol License and Special One-Day Entertainment License for Chatham Harvesters Seafood Festival on September 27, 2025 at 95 Commerce Park South

D. Parking Solutions Working Group Final Recommendations

E. Select Board Liaison for Taxation Aid Committee

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.