Editor:

We strongly endorse Randi Potash for the Chatham Select Board. 

We have known Randi for seven years. We have been struck by her unwavering enthusiasm for the town. She works hard to study an issue from all sides before taking a stand and coming up with a workable solution that will last. She is driven, running many miles every day, getting involved in countless civic activities and helping her kids raise their families. We need more dedicated, tireless and well-rounded leaders like Randi to guide Chatham in the years ahead.

Maureen and Charley Goheen 
North Chatham

Editor:

Serving on the select board takes special skills and Bruce Semple has them. He's a problem solver by nature, and has demonstrated his commitment to preserving and protecting Brewster through his actions and activities with various local organizations. 

Bruce participated in the town's Civics Academy to learn how our local government actually functions. Bruce Semple has also made Brewster’s environment a priority. I’ve worked closely with Bruce at the Brewster Solid Waste Reduction and Recycling Commission’s “Fixit Clinics” to repair broken household items and keep them out of the trash. Bruce has been our “star” fix-it coach. He can fix nearly anything and enjoys listening and coaching participants in how to fix their own items. Bruce has worked to protect Brewster’s ponds and served on the climate and energy committee. He uses solar power at home, composts organics and recycles everything possible.

I’m very confident Bruce Semple will be effective on the Brewster select board. 

Margretta Morris
Brewster

Editor:

I am writing to encourage my fellow Chatham neighbors to vote for Meredith Fry for select board. You know when you have been acquainted with someone for several years, interact and chat with them every so often, and you always walk away thinking “Wow, that is a really good, solid person?” That is how I view Meredith. For the past 20 years she has served on, and now leads the park and recreation commission. She has been instrumental in keeping our beaches safe for locals and visitors alike. She listens to the community and works hard to improve Veterans Field, the tennis and pickleball courts, and many other programs. In short, she will be a select board member who gets things done. As a local business owner and year-round resident, I am hopeful that with a fresh, practical voice on the select board we will make strides in the challenges our town faces, such as affordable housing for local workers and families. She has put in the hard work necessary to understand how our town government works and how she can make it more efficient. When I heard that there was going to be an opening on the select board, my immediate thought was I hoped that Meredith would run because she would be great. You can only imagine how thrilled I was when I heard she already was. 

Marianne Lewis
Chatham

Editor:

The residential tax exemption is not simply a tax policy. It is a targeted, revenue-neutral adjustment to address a clear structural imbalance in Chatham’s housing market. Chatham’s housing profile is dominated by seasonal use:

 • Approximately 55 to 60 percent of housing units are not occupied year-round.

 • Median home values exceed $1 million, far outpacing local incomes.

 • A significant and growing portion of the tax base is tied to high-value, non-primary residences.

At the same time, year-round residents, who depend on municipal services every day, represent a smaller share of property owners but a more income-constrained segment of the tax base. The result is a mismatch between who relies on the town and how the tax burden is distributed.

The residential tax exemption addresses this directly by redistributing the existing levy within the residential class:

 • Providing targeted relief to primary residents.

 • Shifting a modest share of the burden to non-primary and higher-value properties.

 • Maintaining full revenue neutrality, with no impact on the total levy.

Under Massachusetts law, the Chatham Select Board holds the authority to adopt and adjust the exemption annually, making it a flexible, locally controlled tool that can respond to changing fiscal and housing conditions.

Importantly, Chatham is not acting in isolation. Across Cape Cod, communities facing the same pressures of rising property values, declining year-round populations, and increasing seasonal ownership, are converging around this policy:

 • Towns such as Provincetown, Truro and Wellfleet have long utilized the exemption.

 • Nantucket has adopted and continues to evaluate it as part of a broader housing strategy.

 • In total, roughly half of Cape Cod towns have adopted the residential tax exemption, with others actively studying or advancing it.

This reflects a growing regional consensus: traditional property tax structures no longer align with the realities of seasonal housing markets.

For the finance committee working group for what it matters, the fiscal takeaway is clear:

 • The exemption does not reduce revenue or fund new spending.

 • It rebalances the existing tax base to better reflect property use and community impact.

 • It supports year-round residency, workforce stability and long-term fiscal sustainability.

Ultimately, this is not just a tax policy decision, it is a decision about whether Chatham will actively manage these trends or allow market forces alone to reshape the community into a predominantly seasonal one.

Shareen Davis
Chatham
The writer is a member of the Chatham Select Board

Editor:

This is plain and simple: the petition on the Harwich Affordable Housing Trust asks voters to decide how local tax dollars are spent on affordable housing. It’s not about whether Harwich should have affordable housing, meeting state mandates, where housing should be located or how big the projects should be. It’s about one simple thing: who decides.

The petition asks voters to ensure that town funds support projects the community itself chooses. Specifically, it directs the trust to tackle housing affordability head-on by prioritizing programs that help people who live and work in Harwich — teachers, healthcare workers, town employees and other essential local workers. Naturally, no program can operate outside state or federal rules, but within those rules, some Harwich workers face affordability challenges. Targeted programs such as rental assistance, downpayment support or interest rate buy-downs can make a real difference for these essential members of our community.

The core issue is control over taxpayer dollars. Right now, a small appointed board can spend significant funds without voter approval. This petition ensures town dollars support the community’s priorities, while projects can still move forward using private investment, state grants or other funding even if taxpayers don’t approve local money. By keeping town dollars additive — providing extra financial support without being essential, or reflecting the community’s priorities — the community can ensure that any project relying on them faces public scrutiny while allowing development to continue.

The housing trust’s authority comes directly from voters. Under Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 44 Section 55C, town meeting created the trust and defined its powers. It exists because voters delegated authority, and that delegation can be revisited. Guidance from the Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development confirms that programs like rental assistance, downpayment help and interest rate buy-downs are legally allowed if they follow income limits, document local need and comply with fair housing laws.

Louis Urbano
Harwich

Editor:

It’s been an honor to serve on the Brewster Select Board for the past six years. I will miss working with a terrific team of staff and elected officials when my term ends in May. 

I’m very pleased that Bruce Semple has decided to run for my seat. Bruce gives generously of his time and skills to Brewster. He is a member of the Brewster Ponds Coalition board of directors, the Brewster Ladies’ Library finance committee and is a Habitat for Humanity volunteer and poll worker during elections. Additionally, Bruce has 40-plus years of leadership experience in the business sector, giving him the big-picture and teamwork skills that are critical to the work of the select board.

Serving on the select board is challenging and time-consuming. It requires leadership skills that Bruce Semple possesses. He has the experience, interpersonal skills and maturity that will make him an effective select board member. All of us in Brewster will benefit from that.

Brewster is fortunate that Bruce Semple has stepped up to serve. 

Ned Chatelain
Brewster Select Board member

Editor:

We are writing to express our enthusiastic support for Randi Potash. She is truly dedicated to public service, is steady and wise and is committed to understanding many points of view before making decisions. We are particularly impressed with Randi’s professional experience in mediation. She has shown her ability to reach out and deeply listen to all types of people in our community and has a sincere determination to tackle thorny problems that have been difficult for Chatham to face. Randi is the person we need. May 14, vote for Randi and we believe you will be well-represented.

Craig Pennypacker and Sarah B. Griscom, Ph.D.
Chatham

Editor:

Private well owners should not be subject to the same restrictions that the town imposes on users of the public water supply. The reasons that the town imposes emergency restrictions include reduced capacity due to town water system equipment malfunctions, high usage of town supplied water during summer months which can lead to overtaxing town equipment or render water storage below minimums needed for firefighting. These are all valid reasons for restrictions on users of the public water system.

Chapter 261 of the town bylaws outlines the town’s authority for these restrictions but limits the restrictions to “all public and private users of the town's public water system.” Private well owners are not covered by the bylaw, as private wells have no impact on the supply or storage of town produced water nor do they contribute to the reasons why the town would declare an emergency.

For many years, Chatham encouraged homeowners to install private wells for irrigation to reduce pressure on the town’s water supply system. Many heeded that call and do not deserve to have their usage restricted without clear and specific reason.

Jarvis Hunt
North Chatham

Editor:

I am writing to address an issue that is often overlooked but has important consequences for public health and community well-being: defecating in public spaces.

Public defecation is considered illegal in many places because it poses serious health risks. Human waste can carry harmful bacteria, viruses and parasites that may spread disease to others, especially in shared environments like sidewalks, parks and streets. When sanitation systems are bypassed, it increases the likelihood of contamination and puts vulnerable populations — such as children, the elderly and those with weakened immune systems — at greater risk.

Beyond health concerns, there are also environmental and quality of life impacts. Public spaces are meant to be clean, safe and accessible for everyone. When they are contaminated, it can create unpleasant conditions, discourage people from using those areas and place an added burden on sanitation workers and local resources.

There is also a matter of respect and shared responsibility. Communities function best when individuals are mindful of how their actions affect others. Laws prohibiting public defecation are in place not only to maintain hygiene but also to ensure that public areas remain welcoming and dignified for all.

In conclusion, public defecation is both harmful and illegal due to its impact on health, sanitation and public spaces. By understanding these reasons, we can better appreciate the importance of maintaining clean and respectful environments for everyone.

Maria Santoro
Chatham

Editor: 

I am writing to recommend voting for Carol Gordon to fill the vacant seat on the Chatham Select Board. I have known Carol and worked with her for about 30 years to preserve an historic part of Chatham’s housing, marshland, beach and upland. Carol is committed to preserving Chatham’s special natural and historic beauty. While recognizing the need for more affordable housing, she believes such housing should be added wisely and should serve a broad section of Chatham including the many dedicated people who work here in town. She has attended numerous meetings of the affordable housing trust, believing that it is important that neighborhoods should be able to provide their input to achieve a successful integration of such housing into Chatham’s residential stock and village character. I believe she will be an independent member of the board and serve the interests of those who elect her.

John Sweeney
South Chatham

Editor:

The Brewster Conservation Trust along with its citizens protesting housing on the Pond property in Brewster are on the right side of this issue.

First of all, the pond property is situated in Zone 2, which is classified by Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) as a critical wellhead protection area that is vital to our public water supply. Zone 2 areas are threatened by waste water, fertilizers and other contaminants requiring strict land use controls to protect drinking water quality. How could Brewster residents even consider building on land that could critically impact our drinking water and community? 

Secondly, with the recent expansion of the Serenity apartments in Brewster, affordable housing supply in Brewster will soon account for 9.7 percent of total available housing, falling just shy of the Massachusetts mandate of 10 percent. I am sure Brewster can identify other land to bring the affordable housing level up to 10 percent without risking our water supply. It is hard to believe that this even has to be discussed. It is common sense.

Eileen Corr
Brewster

Editor:

I've been watching the ongoing debate about the residential tax exemption with growing anger and an increasing sense of betrayal. In the broader government community where the abandonment of morals is rife, Chatham has thrown both its ethical standards and its moral values on the bonfire. Shame! 

As I watched with admiration the recent No Kings demonstration in Chatham, I was struck by the irony of a protest against a wannabe king and the five kings in Chatham sitting in the select board seats. The latter have done exactly what sparked the American revolution by imposing unequal taxes on those without a voice in their taxation. As moral philosophers would say, just because you can doesn’t mean you should. 

We’ve paid taxes to Chatham for over 46 years and for 15 of the last 25 years voted in our local elections. We invested large sums with local contractors to build and maintain a new home, we’ve patronized the full range of local merchants. One day we realized our best interests would be served by voting elsewhere. Nothing else changed. Then you poked a stick in our eye and betrayed us. 

We’ve lost a great deal of respect for you as a board. It’s unlikely we will continue the full breadth of our investments in the town. Why should we? You betrayed us!

John Trimble
Chatham

Editor:

I never imagined running again for the Brewster Select Board. After falling five votes short in both 2023 and 2024, I focused on other ways to serve through my work as chair of the Brewster Housing Authority, as a member of the community preservation committee and as an “access for all” advocate.

Then came the calls, texts and emails. Neighbors, friends and residents I’ve never met encouraged me to fill the seat vacated by Ned Chatelain. The support of Brewster voters surprised and humbled me. Initially, I wasn’t moved, but I couldn’t get the opportunity out of my mind.

With Brewster facing many challenges, opportunities and hard decisions, the question went from "Should I run?" to "How can I not run?"

Who else can bring the perspective of a lifelong Brewster resident to the board? Who better to balance community needs with protecting our natural and historical beauty? Who better to tackle school budgets and building issues than a graduate who also spent years teaching in those classrooms? Who has lifelong relationships with elders struggling to age in place? Who has shed tears with peers not able to find housing, to stay or return to Brewster, to raise families in this idyllic place?

I care deeply about this community and all of the people in it. The decisions we make about housing, schools, and preserving what makes Brewster special aren’t abstract. They affect our neighbors, our families and our future.

While lacking a traditional résumé, I bring a unique perspective. I’ve founded a nonprofit, worked as a teacher’s aide and led a local business. Living with a disability has taught me to approach challenges through listening, problem-solving and consensus building driven by the belief that everyone deserves to be heard. I know that even the best plans are not set in stone and must be updated in response to changing conditions.

Once again, Brewster voters have the option to elect someone to the select board with local knowledge, connections and strong convictions. I have been a part of this community for my whole life, and that is why I am doing what I never thought I would do again…asking for your vote on May 19.

Laurel Labdon
Brewster

Editor:

I am writing to express my enthusiastic support for Meredith Fry for the Chatham Select Board. As a 20-year veteran of the park and recreation commission, Meredith has already proven she has the stamina and the keen knowledge to serve our town with leadership.

What strikes me most about Meredith is her deep-rooted connection to Chatham. From her childhood summers on the beaches of Chatham to her decision to make this town her "sanctuary" 24 years ago, she understands the soul and inner workings of this community. She has a clear-eyed view of our biggest challenges — specifically the housing crisis that threatens our year-round population and the urgent need for coastal resilience and education. She is concerned about creating year-round jobs here in Chatham and the Lower Cape

Meredith is a leader who "gets things done," whether it's navigating complex beach safety plans or seeing the new pickleball courts through to completion. Chatham needs her energy and her collaborative spirit on the select board.

Lindsay Garre Biewirth
Chatham

I urge the voters of Chatham to elect Carol Gordon to the Chatham Select Board. While one of Carol’s current positions is as the very active and effective president of the South Chatham Village Association, she has proven time after time that she, like other South Chatham residents, has both the skills and interests to provide leadership to all of Chatham.

We are one town facing the potential conflicts involved in protecting our past while preparing for a prosperous future. Carol has no ties to any interests that might jeopardize her fairness and objectivity in making decisions that might affect both goals.

Carol Kolb
South Chatham