Christmas Stroll Weekend

The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear! Meet at the Buoy Tree in Sears Park tonight at 5:45 p.m. and carol with St. Nick himself down to Kate Gould Park for the annual tree lighting at 6 p.m. Keep singing with the Monomoy Regional Middle School Chorus. Santa will be in the bandstand to visit with children of all ages.

Spend the rest of the evening visiting local merchants and restaurants and taking in all the decorations! Main Street downtown will be lined with carolers, musicians and street performers. Pick up your 2022 Angel Fund ornament from the scouts outside Kate Gould Park.  And returning this year - the horse and carriage ride! Hop on outside of the Town Offices at 549 Main Street.

If you can't make it tonight, join the Cranberry Shores Chorus tomorrow from 12 noon to 2
for caroling up and down Main Street!

Police Department Promotions

Congratulations to members of the Police Department who were recognized today for their promotions!

Louis F. Malzone - Deputy Police Chief
Christopher P. Vardakis - Sergeant
Charles A. Chaprales - Police Officer
James L. Bragdon - Police Officer

Please join us in wishing these dedicated officers the best in their new roles!

In Case You Missed It

The results of two studies on erosion, beach nourishment, and shoaling were presented last night by Sustainable Coastal Solutions. 

The two studies evaluated methods to mitigate the loss of beach nourishment materials from Cockle Cove, Ridgevale, and Hardings Beaches and to mitigate erosion at Crescent Beach and shoaling in the entrance to Stage Harbor.

The study of alternate methods to slow the loss of sand nourishment placed at the Town's western beaches found that while structural alternatives may provide some reduction in sand loss, their negative impacts, substantial regulatory scrutiny, and likely high maintenance costs, outweigh the modest positive effects from their installation. It found that the Town's current beach nourishment program to be the most cost effective and beneficial.

The second study, funded by a CZM Coastal Resiliency grant, of alternative methods to mitigate erosion of Crescent Beach and shoaling of the Stage Harbor entrance channel resulted in the recommendation to install temporary flow training structures in the Morris Island Cut. These structures would deflect the strong currents associated with the 2017 formation of “Fools Inlet” away from Crescent Beach and reduce shoaling in the entrance channel. Use of temporary structures to redirect flow is common in rivers but believed to be unique in the marine environment. 

Ted Keon, Director of Coastal Resources said the project is in the permitting phase but decisions to proceed with construction/implementation will require additional community input and policy directives from the Select Board.

The full presentation is available for on-demand viewing through the Ch. 18 archive.

Community Vision on Housing

Join us for the the first of three community engagement meetings to look at affordable and attainable housing development scenarios on the recently purchased properties at 1533 Main Street (formerly the Buckley Property) and 0 Meetinghouse Road on Wednesday, December 14th, at 5:00 pm, at the Town Office Annex, 261 George Ryder Road. Remote participation is available for this meeting.
 
This meeting will launch an inclusive community visioning process led by the Town and Barrett Planning Group to guide the direction of the types and style of housing and housing density to consider for the two sites. The Meetinghouse Road site, purchased exclusively with Affordable Housing Trust funds, will have affordable housing, while the former Buckley Property will have a combination of both affordable and attainable housing.
 
The consultants will facilitate the December 14th meeting to provide information on housing development issues and opportunities within the framework of the Chatham Housing Production Plan goals and strategies, and to solicit input from residents about feasible future development on each of the two properties. Additional feedback will be solicited through an online visual preference survey in January, 2023.

Caution Advised in Duck Season

In an effort to address concerns over the interaction between hunters and beachgoers, particularly during duck/waterfowl season (December through January), cautionary signage regarding hunting has been placed at several southside beaches. 

1. Forest Beach – beginning of backside dune trail & beginning of front beach.
2. Ridgevale Beach – entrance to bridge over Cockle Cove Creek.
3. Harding’s Beach East parking lot -  beginning of marsh trail, beginning of jeep trail, & beginning of front beach.

Please be aware that many users share our natural resources at this time of year.

Homeownership Opportunity

Housing Assistance Corporation Cape Cod is accepting applications for a lottery to purchase a 3 bedroom, 1½ bathroom home at 50 Paul Hush Way in Brewster for $201,630 until December 20, 2022 at 5 p.m. 

Resale restrictions as well as income and asset guidelines apply. Primary residence only.

Eligible applicants can obtain a loan for the purchase price of the property. First-time buyer with exceptions. The type of loan received must comply with the deed restrictions. Household income must be at or below 80% of area mean income for Barnstable County.

Please call Gael Kelleher at 508-771-5400, ext. 284 or email for more information.

Room Occupancy Tax Increase Effective Jan. 1st

The Town's Room Occupancy Tax including short-term rentals will increase from a total of 12.45% to 14.45%. The increase is due to the approval by 2022 Annual Town Meeting to increase the local portion of the tax to 6% as of January 1, 2023.

The Town will receive 6% of the revenue collected from the tax with 1% dedicated to attainable housing and 1% dedicated to Chatham Elementary School support. The State receives 5.7% and 2.75% is directed to the Cape Cod & Islands Water Protection Fund.

First Night Fast Approaching

The clock is winding down on 2022 and we are fast approaching Chatham's 32nd First Night celebration.

First Night Chatham buttons required for admission to almost all indoor events, as well as some outdoor events are available now on sale. You can purchase buttons locally (cash or check only) at The Chatham Clothing Bar, Chatham Branch of the Cape Cod Five, The Orpheum Theater, Chatham Branch of Puritan Cape Cod, Snow's Home & Garden Center in Orleans and South Chatham Liquors.

Buttons are also available to order online.

Troop 71 Christmas Tree Pick-Up

Boy Scout Troop 71 is holding a Christmas Tree Pick Up Fundraiser again this year.

Sign up by January 2nd and the Scouts will pick up your tree the weekend of January 7th-8th. A donation of $15 per tree or whatever is meaningful to you is suggested.

Please remove all ornaments, lights, decorations, and tinsel, etc. and place the tree(s) curbside by 8 a.m. on January 7th. If you will not be home, your donation can be left in an envelope at your door.

All donations support the Troop's yearly activities and adventures.

Next Select Board Meeting - Dec. 13, 2022 @ 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#. 

I. Minutes
November 29, 2022
December 6, 2022

II. Public Announcements and Agenda Item Requests 

III. Public Comments on Business Agenda

IV. Business Agenda (Board Discussion Items)

A. Consider Requests for Use of Town Properties/Facilities; Chatham First Night (Paul Stuka)

B. Set 2023 Annual Town Meeting Date - By December 31, 2022

C. Council on Aging Board of Directors Recommendation for Center for Active Living Site (COA Chair Pat Burke) Public Comments Accepted

D. Committee Appointments; Planning Board

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!