Editor:

 The number of charter planes coming into Chatham has continued to increase. FAA design standards specify that for safety reasons an airport should meet design criteria appropriate for the most demanding aircraft type with more than 500 operations a year. For the past four years, Airplane Design Group (ADG) 2 planes have made over 500 operations: namely, 575, 625, 532 and 638. Chatham’s airport is designed for ADG 1 aircraft, but not for ADG 2 aircraft like the Pilatus. 

 The airport commission and the select board have refused for years to put limits on expansion of services for ADG II charter flights. (Town meeting petition) Article 59 would ban charters and maintain the character of Chatham as a small airport that primarily serves recreational pilots, while improving safety and security for residents and aviators alike.

 The select board has relegated Article 59 to last place, based on pro-airport legal opinions. Let’s leave the legal decision to the Attorney General and show the select board again that the residents are opposed to expansion of charter flights. 

Carol E. Bliss
West Chatham

Editor:

 Simply put, this (Chatham town meeting petition) article, in compliance with Massachusetts state law, states that one member of the select board needs to be appointed to the affordable housing trust.

 Presently two members of the select board serve on the affordable housing trust as well as on the select board. This means each select board member gets to vote twice on the same issue: a vote as a trust member and one as a select board member.

 This warrant article enables the town to be better served by a member of the community being appointed to the Affordable Housing Trust alongside the one select board member.

Carol Gordon
South Chatham

Editor:

 The anti-airport contingent is asking you, the Chatham taxpayer, to pick up what could potentially be hundreds of thousands of dollars in legal fees should Article 59 (which bans larger aircraft) pass at town meeting. Lawyers for the town and for the airport commission have deemed the article illegal and unenforceable. They are concerned that passage of the article will lead to years of expensive litigation that the town will inevitably lose. 

 The board of selectmen and the finance committee have voted unanimously to recommend against passage of the article for this and other sensible reasons.

 Clearly the anti-airport group wants you, the taxpayer, to subsidize their narrow interests. Don’t get fleeced. Vote No on Article 59.

Hart Fessenden
Chatham

Editor:

 I have been a seasonal (five to six months) resident of South Orleans for almost 20 years. I have been a strong supporter of many organizations like the Orleans Conservation Trust, Snow Library, Firebirds, etc. I do all my spending in Orleans. A few years ago, the town considered allowing us to serve on committees. I was excited about the potential opportunity! Even though the town was desperate for help, it was voted down: kind of a slap in the face. Now the two-tier tax is up for consideration. This would be a bigger issue, really telling me I am a second-class citizen. The Cape is a compact place; Harwich and Brewster are about equidistant for me. If this is how I am treated by Orleans, I am much more likely to go other places.

Dick Kling
South Orleans

Editor:

 It’s time for a change before it is too late. I urge you to vote for Stuart Smith. Having served Chatham for 30 years and as harbormaster, Stuart's institutional knowledge gives him unique and valuable insight into what’s wrong with current town government management, and changes needed.

 Chatham can’t withstand three more years of Mr. Schell. As chair of the select board and the affordable housing trust, there’s been an inherent conflict. 

 Under their management, spending’s up 8.19 percent. Staff has increased by 25 positions in six years without an increase in population. They haven’t maintained facilities, including the schools for children’s health safety, they’re supporting poorly designed affordable housing that doesn’t encourage or attract year-round families and home ownership. They’ve refused to aggressively address new wells, storage for drinking water and sewering, yet caved to a vocal group that would have the rest of us pay for their grinder pumps buried in wastewater Article 18, when it should have been a separate article for a two-thirds up-or-down vote. Free cash is being used for pet projects by only requiring a majority vote versus two-thirds, circumventing the authority of voters. This management can’t continue unchecked.

 Instead, the tag team of Schell and Dykens wants increased density, ignoring the impact on water, sewer, roads, traffic and open space, and promoting more year-round tourism regardless of the financial and environmental impact and quality of life. We no longer have a representative government. Full-time residents are considered obstacles to their vision of Chatham. No one should have this much power. Chatham isn’t their personal experiment. Despite what they think, they work for us. They will eventually move on, but the damage to Chatham will remain forever.

Elaine Gibbs
Chatham

Editor:

 Last year’s town meeting ended with a strong sentiment against continued public financial support for the Chatham Airport, with its increasing numbers of large, noisy jets and turboprop charter flights. People are getting tired of the arrogance of the airport commission, which has refused to take seriously the impact of the airport on the community, yet keeps asking for financial support from the town. 

 The select board, which consistently sides with the airport commission, was surprised by the public outcry and the votes against select board recommendations last year. The select board is still in denial that the public does not appreciate their decisions, which often ignore and directly contradict public opinion expressed in hearings. 

 Because neither the airport commission nor the select board has done anything to stem the increase in charter flights, this year over 100 neighbors signed a citizens’ petition to ban the larger jets and turboprops from Chatham Airport. This is now Article 59 at town meeting on May 10. In a ruse to discourage passage, the town placed the petition on the warrant as the very last item for town meeting, when many voters are leaving. Don’t fall for it.

 If the proposed bylaw passes, it will be reviewed by the Massachusetts attorney general to rule on its legality. This is a complicated issue, which lawyers can debate. It is not our job to decide on legality, but to express our opinion on the kind of community we want. 

David Bixby
West Chatham

Editor:

 I urge Chatham voters to accept the seasonal community designation (Article 49). Accepting this designation would give Chatham critical tools to help address our housing needs.

 If we accept this designation, Chatham will be permitted — but not required — to acquire year-round occupancy restrictions; acquire or develop housing units for our public employees, such as teachers, public works employees, public safety employees, first responders, and employees essential for municipal operations; establish a year-round housing trust fund to develop affordable and attainable housing for year-round residents; and expend funds for the creation and preservation of year-round affordable and attainable housing for individuals who, by vocation, produce or support artistic and literary activities.

 The only actions we would be required to take if we accept the seasonal community designation would be to adopt bylaws to permit certain undersized lots to be used for the creation of attainable year-round housing and permit the construction of housing units of less than 400 square feet for year-round housing. Our zoning bylaw already allows construction of homes on certain non-conforming lots and does not specify a minimum home size, so it seems unlikely that we would have to make significant changes. In any event, any amendment to our zoning would have to be approved at a town meeting, ensuring that we will all have a say on any new provisions.

Kathryn Sherer
Chatham

Editor:

 We live in a world of noise. Lies, misinformation and spin seem to be the norm. Recently a selectman stated that the airport was a key ingredient to public safety because it is available for medevacs. Medevacs use helicopters and helicopters don’t need runways. This was shown by the medevac use of a field in Harwich. By that logic, Ocean State Job Lot parking lot is as important as CQX. Let’s stop using fear as a reason for airport existence.

 How about the MassDOT 2019 fiscal document of how much revenue the airport returns to the town? When asked, MassDOT says the data doesn’t exist; how convenient. My thought is $0. If I’m wrong, show us the data.

 Another statement is: “If you don’t like airports, why did you buy a house near one?” The proper question is: “If you love the airport, why didn’t you buy a house near it?” My favorite, when you fly on vacation, your pilot may have received their early training at CQX. I flew on United recently and asked the pilot if he’d trained at CQX, he said, “never heard of it.” 

 I’m not saying remove the airport, but let’s return it to its original intent, use by recreational flyers. No more turbo props, no more personal jets, no more commercial flights. The airport commission will tell you why that can’t be done, but it can be done. Privatize the airport like in the Hamptons. The town owns the airport, and we can manage it. There’s a game being played here and the spin doctors have been doing a good job of it.

Bob Nelson
Chatham

Editor:

Many of us have been worried over the past several years that the traditional form of New England town government has been greatly weakened here in Chatham. The sense is that rather than citizens gathering to discuss and decide what should be done, there is a small influential group who have played the system so that nothing occurs by accident, that decisions are made in advance for the benefit of that small group before the citizens even know the issue. It reminds me of the old western movie where the accused is in handcuffs next to the sheriff. The judge addresses the townfolk and says, "First we'll give him a fair trial, and then we'll hang him." 

Assuming the above concern is valid, it's even more worrisome that two select board candidates have announced they are running as a team. This decreases the chance of independent thinking and suggests they may be voting as a bloc. This will further weaken the power and influence of the vast majority of our town's citizens.

For these reasons, I am supporting Stuart Smith, who will bring a new and independent perspective to the select board. Stu's long history of experience and service as Chatham's harbormaster and understanding of how our town works will serve us well.

Lou Hieb
South Chatham

Editor:

 Once again, certain airport neighbors are attempting to set in motion a train of events that could potentially lead to the closing of Chatham Airport. It is probably safe to say that they will continue to do so every year. It is also safe to say that if it were left to airport neighbors, we probably would not have any airports at all. Of course, the reality is that airports are a vital part of the communities they serve, and overall, their benefits far outweigh the inconvenience felt by some. For Chatham, the most recent study conducted by MassDOT showed that our airport contributes $14 million in economic benefit to Chatham and surrounding communities. Surely this has a very positive impact on the businesses in our community and helps to keep our tax rate enviably low. But the economic benefit is just a part of the story. Our airport also supports numerous services such as Medevac, fish, shark and whale spotting, flight training and aircraft maintenance. We are also the farthest east and extend the range of Coast Guard rescue services out at sea. Finally, there are intangible benefits like providing aviation education to middle school students and of course an award-winning restaurant with a view of aircraft coming and going. 

 The airport neighbors who want to ban certain aircraft from landing at Chatham (Article 59) make it sound like an innocent request without financial ramifications. But the reality is that this article is like a blank check for unspecified and unbounded legal and administrative costs borne by Chatham taxpayers. Much better would be to work within the framework of federal and state regulations, rather than litigate against them. 

Rene Haas
Chatham

Editor:

 I respectfully urge voters to support both Stuart Smith for select board and town meeting warrant Article 58 on affordable housing.

 Stuart Smith did a terrific job over the decades as Chatham harbormaster, collaborating with competing constituents, running a professional waterways operation the envy of other towns and personally and humbly enhancing maritime safety while faced with Coast Guard cuts. His proven record as a listener and leader makes him highly qualified to serve on the select board.

 Stuart’s attributes are desperately needed on the select board. I support affordable housing but under the too-heavy hand of Select Board Chair and Affordable Housing Trust Chair Michael Schell, the 98 total rental units for the Buckley property and Meetinghouse Road developments collided with the interests of most Chatham voting residents. That resulted directly from Chatham’s decision to appoint two select board members to the affordable housing trust rather than the one select board member mandated by state law.

 And then there was a fifth vote providing a supermajority — from Chatham’s own Elon Musk, always outspoken but never elected, David Oppenheim. With his support, double chair Schell ran arrogant, debate-stifling meetings, rivaled only by a certain current cabinet. These national and town top-down tactics show the same alarming disregard for democratic principles.

 The five votes excluded affordable home ownership for our young local families so that a cheap work force, lawn fertilizers for example, can be housed nearby to continue poisoning our fresh and salt water, yielding overall bad public policy. A democratic balance is needed. Stuart Smith and Warrant Article 58 provide that.

David J. Farrell, Jr.
South Chatham

Editor:

 I am writing in support of Jeff Dykens and Mike Schell for re-election to the Chatham Select Board.

 Both Jeff and Mike have demonstrated their abilities and commitment towards preserving our community and enhancing the future of our town.

 This has been shown in their work and leadership collaboration with the select board in developing the strategic plan for Chatham which will have a tremendous impact over the next several years. It addresses the key issues we all face including education, environment and of course affordable/attainable housing. Their expertise, knowledge and proficient management will continue to help address these and other critical issues and benefit all those who love Chatham.

Bradford Schiff
Chatham

Editor:

 The airport commission is asking for your support of Chatham Town Meeting Article 6 and Article 26 and not to support the third, Article 59. Article 6 is the annual reauthorization of the Airport Revolving Fund spending limit for fiscal 2026. The revenue for this fund is generated by specific operations at the airport and is restricted for airport use only. It is not supported by taxes. The revolving fund is used primarily to cover monthly expenses incurred by the airport commission for maintenance and repair, utilities and other costs.

 Article 26 is the request for the local share for capital improvement projects. These projects are funded predominantly by the FAA (90 percent) and Mass DOT Aeronautics Division (5 percent), with the town appropriating the 5 percent balance. The projects for this year increase safety and improve the airport’s infrastructure. The local share for these projects leverages over $1 million of total cost. The effect on the tax rate is about half a penny on the dollar.

 Article 59 regards a proposed bylaw to limit certain types of aircraft from using Chatham Airport. These are primarily the turboprop aircraft operated by the charter companies and some private owners. It is important to understand that this proposed bylaw is unlawful: it would violate FAA regulations and would be immediately rejected for unjustly discriminating against a type of aeronautical use, it is preempted by federal law, and it would not be approved by MassDOT Aeronautics Division or the Massachusetts Attorney General. It would also put the town in violation of the contractual grant assurances that are in place for the money that has been received for airport improvement projects. The airport commission, the select board and the finance committee have all voted not to recommend the passage of this proposed bylaw.

Huntley Harrison, chair
Chatham Airport Commission

Editor:

 I am asking for your support to re-elect Jeff Dykens and Mike Schell to the Chatham Select Board on May 15. Over the past three years they have both served as chairperson of the select board and led us to the doorstep of positive progress. Some examples are:

 Water: Construction of a water treatment facility on Training Field Road to address PFAS(6) contamination of municipal wells 5 and 8; replaced old, unlined and undersized water mains; and placed municipal wells 10 and 11 back online while pursuing possible new well locations. 

 Wastewater: Sewer expansion including grinder pump funding and Cape Aquifund low-interest loans to reduce the cost of sewer connections to the individual homeowner.

 Transfer station: Reconstruction of the transfer station on Sam Ryder Road to increase efficiency and safety and comply with OSHA standards.

 Center for Active Living: Expand and renovate the existing facility on Stony Hill Road. Both the transfer station and the Center for Active Living projects would use free cash as a funding source saving Chatham $4 million in borrowing interest costs.

 Waterfront: Sustaining and enhancing waterfront facilities including the 90 Bridge St. project, which includes repurposing the historic Stage Harbor boat house as a new shellfish upwelling facility.

 Affordable Housing: Two affordable housing projects are underway awaiting ZBA approval on The Buckley Property in West Chatham and Meetinghouse Road in South Chatham.

 Together Jeff Dykens and Mike Schell bring a quality of experience, leadership, accomplishment and integrity that has served Chatham well. I believe this is a pivotal election. It is time to stay the course and continue moving forward. 

David R. Whitcomb
West Chatham 

Editor:

 In the April 24 edition of The Chronicle, Jeffrey Dykens and Michael Schell wrote a “You Guest It” entitled "Why We Are Running.” It is a curious title. A better title would have been “Why we should be re-elected.” But then the article does not talk about why they should be re-elected. Come to think of it, what have they done to deserve re-election? Loving Chatham and living here for a long time are not, in themselves, qualifiers for re-election.

Read Moffett
Chatham

Editor:

 I'm writing in support of Article 58 on the Chatham Town Meeting warrant and as a reminder to fellow residents to please stay to the end of the meeting, since some of the most important issues are often placed at the end of the warrant, perhaps by design. 

 Article 58 reduces the number of select board members serving on the Affordable Housing Trust from two to one, and as before appoints one member of the Chatham Community Housing Partnership, appointing the remaining (now five, not four) members of the board of trustees from the community at large. This change, while still in keeping with state regulations, reduces what was "double voting" from two members of the select board to one. (Select board members serving on the housing trust end up with two votes, one for the trust and one as a select board member.) That "double voting" overruled the opposing select board members and community housing partnership member and brought us the two large Penrose Corporation (rental only) workforce apartment complexes rather than a combination of rental/ownership housing units preferred by a large number of residents and overseen by proven local nonprofits The Housing Assistance Corp. and Habit for Humanity.

 This change would restore good government and give Chatham residents more of a say in future affordable housing projects.

E.J. Mckenna
South Chatham

Editor:

 It was Oct. 17, 2019 when The Chronicle headline stated, “Plan Calls For New $4.6 Million Airport Terminal.” The new airport terminal/administration building will replace the building that houses a repair hangar, offices and restaurant. The plan also includes two new hangar buildings containing 22 units. These units are required because the current 39 existing hangars are at capacity. With a total of 61 hangar units, the airport traffic will increase, causing additional fuel storage, noise and pollution.

 In 2017, it was determined that 60 percent of the aircraft were single-engine fixed wing, 20 percent turboprop planes, 10 percent multi-engine fixed wing, nine percent helicopters, one percent jets. The jet and turboprop planes (mainly Pilatus charters) increased substantially in recent years and will continue to increase if the airport commission plan succeeds.

 To stop this expansion, Chatham residents have been voicing their opposition since 2019 at airport commission and select board meetings, with hundreds of residents in attendance, and have initiated citizen petitions. Residents just want the select board to exercise their responsibility to protect the citizens of Chatham for reasons of safety and health.

 Support town meeting Article 59 (citizen petition on the airport) and replace incumbent board members with people who will listen to us at the May 15 annual election.

Harriet Prout
Chatham

Editor:

 Chatham has an important election coming up on May 15. Mike Schell and Jeff Dykens, two very experienced community leaders, are running for re-election to the Chatham Select Board. Jeff Dykens, has served on the select board for the past 12 years and regional school committees. Mike Schell has served on the select board for three years and the affordable housing trust and the charter review committee.

 In their past three-year select board terms, Mike and Jeff were instrumental in the board’s adopting a five-year strategic plan. Moving forward with this plan has begun and will take substantial work collaborating, consensus building, persistence and listening to diverse view points. Jeff and Mike’s combined expertise in these skills in addition to management, finances and implementing complex projects will benefit all Chatham residents.

 We call Chatham ” home” for many reasons, including that we have people like Mike Schell and Jeff Dykens, both of whom love our town and are willing to devote so much time and effort to assuring that Chatham continues to feel like “home.”

Priscilla Smith
Chatham

Editor:

 After reading Judy Patterson’s dystopian vision of Chatham (“Frankly, the whole town’s a mess…” letters, April 24), it is hard to believe she is referring to the same town that I live in. The Chatham I know is one of the most desirable communities on the East Coast, with high property values, a low tax rate, a triple-A bond rating, a vibrant downtown, and with the possible exception of the Center for Active Living, updated public facilities and infrastructure. A great deal of the credit for this goes to the competent, experienced leadership of the current members of the board of selectmen, including the two incumbents up for re-election, Jeff Dykens and Mike Schell. Both have shown the courage to make the hard choices necessary to move the town forward on some of the very contentious issues we face like affordable housing, the sewer extension and the airport. They deserve re-election if for no other reason than standing their ground and acting in the best interest of the town despite opposition by those who respectfully, and sometimes not so respectfully, disagree. Such is the nature of leadership. We can all find differences with one or another of the decisions Jeff Dykens and Mike Schell have made, but stepping back and looking at the big picture leaves no doubt that Chatham has greatly benefitted by their service and they richly deserve re-election. 

Ron Bergstrom 
Chatham

Editor:

 I am delighted for the town that Chatham's retired harbormaster has decided to continue to serve the town with his experience and knowledge. Working for Stuart Smith for the town of Chatham allowed me to witness his vast knowledge of laws and procedures, his dedication to the job and remarkable leadership skills. I am sure he will make great contributions applying his experience and will be an asset to the great town of Chatham.

Leo Dunn
Portsmouth, N.H.

Editor:

 Corrections are warranted to an ad in last week’s Chronicle opposing Article 59 at town meeting. Article 59, to be voted on by residents, would ban large Design Group 2 aircraft from using Chatham Airport. 

 Chatham Airport does not meet FAA design standards for Design Group 2 aircraft, especially in low visibility, a feature of Chatham weather. Past safety records are irrelevant. FAA standards and regulations are based on more than track records; standards also account for the potential severity of loss of life and injury to persons on the ground. Big planes approaching a small airport in suddenly-arising rain, wind and fog is a recipe for disaster involving people and homes on the ground. 

 Threats that the FAA could demand repayment of $7 million in previous airport grant funds are a scare tactic perpetrated by disingenuous pilots. There exists no such authority under federal law or FAA regulation to claw back grant funds due to non-compliance with grant agreements. Furthermore, Article 59 is consistent with the town’s contract with the FAA and permitted under Grant Assurance 22i: "The sponsor (Chatham) may prohibit or limit any given type, kind or class of aeronautical use of the airport if such action is necessary for the safe operation of the airport …”

 Article 59 protects passengers, residents and homes from large aircraft in a dangerous approach mismatched to the airport and weather and maintains the character of the airport traditional to Chatham.

Juris Ukstins
Chatham