TOWN OF CHATHAM | MA - Chatham-Ma.Gov

TOWN OF CHATHAM | MA

In the Red Zone – 6.52% Positivity Rate             April 9, 2021
As the surge in cases in Barnstable County has
expanded more towns have returned to high-risk     CHATHAM
Red Zone designation. Unfortunately, Chatham       CASE COUNT
was returned to the Red Zone as of yesterday’s     04/09/2021
State COVID-19 reporting. Please continue taking   Total: 312
measures to keep yourself and our community
safe. Mask up, keep your distance from those
not in your household, and wash your hands.

TOWN OF CHATHAM | MA
Community Forum on Chatham Elementary School
        The Chatham Select Board will hold a Community Forum on the operation of Chatham Elementary
School on Thursday, April 15, 2021 at 6:30 p.m. via Zoom.
        Public input is needed to inform the Board on the direction it should take to address the concerns of
the Monomoy Regional School Committee on the decreasing enrollment at the Chatham Elementary School; its
effect on our elementary student’s educational experience; the resultant cost per pupil and related concerns
relative to the maintenance of an excellent, viable Elementary School in Chatham.
            • Should the Regional Agreement be opened to address the costs per pupil and the educational
                experience for students at Chatham Elementary School?
            • Are community members willing to pay more to maintain status quo operation of Chatham
                Elementary School?
            • Should Chatham explore withdrawing Chatham Elementary School from the Monomoy Regional
                School District?
        In order to hear from as many community members as possible live comments will be limited to 3 minutes
per speaker. Comments may be sent to the Select Board in advance of the meeting via email to
communityforum@chatham-ma.gov . Emailed comments will be accepted until 4 p.m. on Friday, April 16, 2021.
        The Monomoy Regional School District Agreement may be reviewed at
https://www.monomoy.edu/Page/114.
        The link to join the Forum online is available here and will be posted on the Town’s website. To join via
phone, choose a call-in number: +1 646 558 8656 US (New York); +1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC); +1 312
626 6799 US (Chicago); +1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma); +1 346 248 7799 US (Houston); +1 669 900 9128 US (San
Jose) and use Meeting ID: 912 4242 7548, Passcode: 02633.
        The Forum will be available for live viewing on Channel 18 and will be streamed on the Town’s website
and YouTube Channel.
Town Receives Grant Funding
        The Fire Department was awarded a Department of Fire Services grant in the amount of $12,500. With
the grant funding, the FD will be able to purchase ten fire helmets, ten firefighting hoods (head, neck and facial
protection) and ten sets of firefighting gloves, supplementing their capital account for protective clothing.
Secondly, grant funding will cover the cost of forty portable radio batteries, allowing the FD to replace the
battery in all portable radios and a marine radio for the Chief’s vehicle, enhancing communications with both
the Harbormaster and Coast Guard for water-based incidents. Finally, grant funds will cover the expense of
four battery-powered metal cutting saws, which will enhance FD’s capabilities with forcible entry at structure
fires and other rescue incidents, along with extricating entrapped victims of motor vehicle accidents.
        The Community Development Department was awarded a Housing Choice Small Town Capital grant up
to $50,000 which will be used to conduct a feasibility study on the 19-acre property located in South Chatham
on Middle Road to determine if any potential development hurdles exist. The feasibility study will allow the
Town to move forward with creating a plan to develop the site for year-round affordable housing if Annual
Town Meeting approves the designation of the property for such.

TOWN OF CHATHAM | MA
West Chatham Roadway Corridor Work Continues
Stamped Concrete Truck Apron Installation April 5-15
        MassDOT and contractor Lawrence Lynch Corp. will be conducting work on the stamped concrete
truck aprons on both roundabouts in the West Chatham Rte. 28 corridor through April 15, 2021. Some work
will be conducted overnight.
        Traffic will be open in both directions throughout the duration of this work and access to local
businesses will be always maintained. There may be times when one-way alternating traffic is necessary.
        To avoid detours of truck/trailer traffic, work will be conducted at both Barnhill Road and George
Ryder Road roundabouts simultaneously, one half of each roundabout at a time. The contractors plan to allow
about 36 hours of cure time between concrete placements.
        Police details will be posted (2) each at both locations 24 hours per day to facilitate traffic flow
through the roundabouts. Oversized vehicles will be transitioned through the projects with police assistance.
Trucks with trailers transiting the corridor may want to seek an alternate route if feasible and avoid the area if
they can during the day.
        There will be police officers posted at these locations during all construction times. Regular passenger
and commercial vehicles will be able to transition the rotaries with no problems.

Eldredge Public Library Roof Restoration Project
        Work began on the Eldredge Public Library Roof Restoration Project on Tuesday, April 6 th. There will be
limited parking at the Library throughout the project time frame. Staging installation around the Library should
be completed by today (April 9th). Removal of roof slate shingles will begin on Monday, April 12th and the project
is planned to be completed by the end of May.
        All storage of materials and equipment will be managed on site in a portion of the rear parking area.
The book drop will remain open and accessible. Please do not park in front of the side entrance on Library Lane.
        The Library will remain open during the project. Updates will be provided via emails and the Library’s
social media accounts. Join the Library’s email list. Please contact the Library at 508-945-5170 if you have
questions.

Burn Permits and Brush Disposal
       Spring is here and yard clean-ups are ongoing for most property owners. Keep the following in mind:
       2021 Open Burn season is underway. Open Burn permits are available online through the Fire
Department’s web page. Permits are $10.00 each and are valid through May 1, 2021. Remember to call the
Fire Department at 508-945-2324 after 9:30 a.m. on the day of the intended burn to receive permission to
burn that day.
       If you prefer to bring yard waste to the Transfer Station, please be aware that it remains closed on
Wednesdays until further notice. If you have a Transfer Station sticker there is no charge for leaves/pine
needles/lawn clippings, but you will be charged $5.00 per barrel of brush. Charges to dispose of brush of $10
per auto/trip, $35 per pick-up/trailer, and $48 per one-to truck are charged whether you have a Transfer
Station sticker or not. For more information visit the Transfer Station’s webpage.

        This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-NC