CHATHAM – Incumbent Jeffrey Dykens and newcomer J. Michael Schell won three-year terms on the select board at Thursday's annual town election. Schell, in his first run for public office, received the most votes with 760. Dykens followed closely with 721 while challenger Lynne Pleffner had 427 votes. Schell, retired mergers and acquisitions attorney, has been a full-time resident for six years but vacationed...

CHATHAM – The town offices will be closed for the rest of the month as a result of the power surge last month that damaged or destroyed a significant amount of the building's electronics. A power spike caused by an Eversource equipment failure April 27 shut down the 549 Main St. building and forced departments to relocate while repairs are being made. Currently the town clerk is operating out of the community ...

CHATHAM — With the pandemic waning – at least in terms of severe illnesses – plans are underway for the town’s family-friendly New Year’s Eve celebration. First Night Chatham once again plans to include performances at indoor venues, with more activities later in the evening. But it’s a lack of volunteers, not the pandemic, that’s keeping late-night activities off the schedule again this year. “Our intentio...

Other Measures To Help Combat Rising Cost Of Living Approved CHATHAM – Neither supporters of preserving town-owned land off Middle Road as open space nor those who wanted to use a portion of the property for affordable housing got what they wanted at Saturday's annual town meeting. Despite an emphasis during the meeting on helping local families meet the high cost of living in town, a proposal to use four o...

CHATHAM – Paid parking, a shuttle and incentives to get downtown employees to use outlying parking lots were among the possible approaches to the town's perennial summer parking problems discussed by chamber of commerce and Chatham Merchants Association members last week. About two dozen business owners and employees were present for the May 11 virtual discussion, which was called to provide feedback to a park...

But Wants Guarantee If Parcel Is Turned Over To Town CHATHAM – Repeatedly, top candidates offered jobs in the Monomoy Regional School District decline because they can't afford to live in the area. “The housing situation has changed in the last two years, creating a situation that really threatens the quality of the school district,” said Superintendent of Schools Scott Carpenter. “That puts us in a bind an...

CHATHAM – Two bylaws that tried to limit use of Chatham Municipal Airport went down to defeat at Saturday's annual town meeting. Airport supporters rallied to oppose the articles, which were submitted by petition. Both measures lost by a substantial margin, one on a voice vote and the other by a two-to-one margin in a hand count. The airport has been the subject of controversy since skydiving began there mo...

CHATHAM – Under pressure to eliminate perceived inequities in the town's outdoor watering ban, the select board last week modified the order to allow limited watering of lawns and plantings as well as clarifying how the fire department is allowed to use water. Households on town water can now water both established and new lawns, shrubs and flower gardens, but no more than twice a week between 5 p.m. and 9 a.m...

CHATHAM – In a marathon six-hour town meeting Saturday, voters rejected proposals to limit use of Chatham Airport and failed to muster the votes necessary to set aside land on Middle Road for affordable housing. More than 600 voters spread across the outfield at Veterans Field approved a $35 million operating budget, $9.5 million Monomoy Regional School District funding and increased the town's occupancy tax f...

Chatham, Fall River Diocese Reach Agreement On Meetinghouse Road Property CHATHAM – The town has reached an agreement with the Diocese of Fall River to purchase 5.26 acres of land on Meetinghouse Road for affordable housing. The town's affordable housing trust fund committee voted unanimously Tuesday to buy the land, which is across the road from Our Lady of Grace Chapel. The $525,000 purchase price will co...

CHATHAM — The town has received complaints about duck hunters on Harding’s Beach and Forest Beach, with some worried about the safety of beachgoers and others complaining about the discarded plastic cartridges and wadding hunters sometimes leave on the shore. The parks and recreation commission recently asked whether it’s time for Chatham to consider hiring a hunting warden for education and monitoring of hunting...

CHATHAM – There's a single contested race on the May 19 annual election ballot, with incumbent Jeffrey Dykens and residents Lynne Pleffner and J. Michael Schell seeking two three-year terms on the select board. Jessica Rogers is running unopposed for a three-year term on the Monomoy Regional School Committee, and there are no candidates for a seat on the housing authority. A non-binding public advisory questio...