CFAL Renovations OK’d, W. Chatham Bylaw Fails At Marathon Annual Town Meeting

CHATHAM – In a six-hour marathon session Saturday, town meeting voters approved funding to expand and renovate the Center for Active Living, turned down a zoning change to create a West Chatham Village Center, and endorsed repairs to the Monomoy Regional Middle School.

Voters also approved a town bylaw that will limit the size of aircraft that can use Chatham Municipal Airport (see separate story).

Since 2019, officials have been trying to get approval for a new building for the council on aging. At least three times votes for funding prevailed but failed to reach the two-thirds threshold needed to borrow the money.

With $11 million in free cash available this year, officials decided to use that source for the $5 million to upgrade the existing Center For Active Living on Stony Hill Road, since it avoids borrowing and only requires a majority vote. 

Plans call for enlarging the existing building by 22 percent, expanding parking and creating dedicated space for the new senior day program. The changes will make the building more functional for council on aging programs and safer for participants, officials said.

“This project is about ensuring that when you or your neighbors are ready, that the doors are open and programs are available to support healthy, active aging in Chatham,” said Town Manager Jill Goldsmith. 

Some felt the price tag was too high for the work being proposed. Janet Whitemore said while the COA services are “vital for our community,” she questioned locating the senior day program in the basement. “This is just putting a Band-Aid on it,” she said. “I think the town deserves a state-of-the-art facility.”

Deborah Haggen said COA services “saved my life” and staff and clients deserve adequate facilities. “I think it’s past time we fund a program that works for all. Yes, $5 million is a lot of money,” but waiting longer will only make the project more expensive, she said.

The cost isn’t ideal, said Anne Dickson, “but it will make a world of difference for usage of the building.”

When the article passed 440-88, the audience erupted in applause. An ambitious schedule calls for bids to be sought this summer with work beginning in August and finishing in June 2026.

Voters also approved $3,400,000 to complete renovations and reconfigurations at the town’s transfer station. Most of the money will come from free cash, with $400,000 coming from property taxes.

Monomoy Middle School Repairs

Authorization for the Monomoy School District to borrow $9,007,030 to replace failed siding and windows at the middle school passed 502-26. Chatham’s share of the cost will be $2,088,730, said Peter Troy, co-chair of the school building committee. Last year $2.5 million was set aside for the project, expected to cost $11.5 million. Harwich approved its share last week.

Moisture penetration has resulted in air quality problems inside the school. “This needs to be addressed now to avoid further degradation,” Troy said. Funding to replace the school’s roof will be sought next year, he added.

Teacher Matthew Barnes, who is also on the building committee, said he’s had to move computers around to avoid water damage. “The longer we wait, the more it will cost,” he said. “It’s going to be an investment.”

Fifth grade student Lucy Cortese said her classes have been relocated because of water leaks. 

“This project is important for your children and grandchildren to have a healthy learning environment," she said.

West Chatham Neighborhood Center

A West Chatham Neighborhood Center zoning bylaw, in the works by the planning board for more than three years, was rejected by voters, with a number of residents expressing concerns about affordable housing provisions in the measure. 

The bylaw would provide controls on future development and redevelopment to promote a more pedestrian-friendly village-type atmosphere, said planning board chair Art Sprugh. The bylaw will “revitalize the West Chatham Village Center and end the threat of suburban highway sprawl in Chatham,” said West Chatham resident Rick Leavitt.

The bylaw promotes common sense development and allows affordable, attainable and other types of housing, said planning board member Charleen Greenhalgh. “This is the first bylaw in town that says what the town wants to see,” she said.

West Chatham resident Judy Patterson said the bylaw tries to micromanage redevelopment and excludes the Buckley property, where affordable housing is planned, even though that will have an impact on the neighborhood center.

“This bylaw is nowhere ready for prime time,” she said.

While a majority of voters approved the article, the 253-143 vote failed to reach the two-thirds majority needed to pass.

Other Action

Voters approved a $44,154,028 operating budget, an 8.19 percent increase, as well as $3.16 million in capital spending. The town’s $11,118,811 share of the Monomoy Regional School District’s $49 million budget, an 8.74 percent increase, was also approved.

Town meeting rejected a petition article to pay the back property taxes of an elderly resident, but agreed to accept a state statute that allows taxpayers to contribute to a fund that would be set up to help low-income elderly and disabled residents pay property taxes.

Borrowing $32 million to continue the town’s sewer expansion program was approved. Seth Taylor’s amendment to remove $2 million included in the sewer measure to pay for grinder pumps for residents was defeated. The debt will be subject to a Proposition 2½ override vote at today’s annual town election.

Community preservation funds approved included $500,000 for the town’s affordable housing trust; $408,000 to restore and preserve the Stallknecht murals at the Atwood House Museum; $275,000 for restoration of an historic barn by the Nickerson Family Association; $500,000 to rebuild the Little Mill Pond town pier; and $140,000 for continuation of studies of the town’s salt marshes.

Other articles approved Saturday included $66,000 for stationary and portable digital speed signs; a general bylaw allowing finance committee members to serve on advisory and ad hoc committees; the refiling of special legislation to impose a property tax surcharge on property sales over $2 million; acceptance of a seasonal community designation under the state Affordable Homes Act; filing a petition with the state to add commercial fishermen to favored groups under the aforementioned housing law; and $400,000 for dredging.