Paraskevidekatriaphobia?
Yup, it's a thing - the fear of Friday the 13th! It's an extension of Triskaidekaphobia which is a fear of the number 13. It originates from Paraskevi which is Greek for Friday. According to fearof.net, nearly 8% of people in the United States suffer from it. The number 13 and Fridays have had negative connotations throughout history in many cultures and religions. Don't want to risk a bout of bad luck tonight? Maybe just stay in and watch a scary movie.
Welcome Aboard
Tyler Baker was sworn in today as Chatham's newest Firefighter/Paramedic. He reports for his first shift on Monday, January 16th.
Firefighter Baker is a native Cape Codder and third-generation firefighter. He began his career as a intern with the Orleans Fire Department in his junior and senior years at Nauset Regional High School. He went on to serve in the United States Marine Corps Reserves for six years. He worked as a paramedic for Coastal Medical Transport and Lower Cape Ambulance before joining the Brewster Fire Department where he most recently served.
Join us in welcoming Firefighter Baker to Team Chatham!
Honoring Martin Luther King, Jr.
In recognition of the Martin Luther King Day holiday all Town offices and the Community Center will be closed on Monday, January 16th.
Finding Solutions to Parking Issues
The Parking Solutions Working Group will hold a community engagement listening session on Thursday, January 19, 2023 at 6 p.m. in the large meeting room at the Town Office Annex, 261 George Ryder Road and virtually, to solicit input from the business community and the public on ways to alleviate parking congestion at the municipal fish pier and in the downtown area.
Members of the community are invited to participate by attending in-person or remotely. Those who are unable to participate on the night of the session are welcome to submit their input on the questions to be posed through the Community Voice portal on the Town’s website January 17, 2023 through January 24, 2023.
Topics to be covered include paid parking in Town-owned parking lots, time limitations on parking along Main Street downtown, and paid parking and/or time limitations in the upper lot at the municipal fish pier.
The Parking Solutions Working Group was created by Town Manager Jill Goldsmith in January 2022 at the direction of the Select Board in follow-up to its CY2022/FY2023 goal to explore the implementation of paid parking in Town. The Working Group includes representatives of the Chamber of Commerce/Merchants Association, downtown residents, the Select Board, Town staff, and Aunt Lydia’s Cove and Traffic Safety Committees.
CQX Operational Counts
The Chatham Airport Commission has released operational counts for the Airport for the month of December and for 2022.
The Airport saw 1,076 operations in December, compared to 958 in December 2021, and 1,099 in December 2019. Operations for 2022 totaled 22,573, down 8.1 percent from 24,567 operations in 2021, and a 2.4 percent increase from 22,031 operations in 2019. Operations at Chatham Municipal Airport were lower in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
PC-12 operations for 2022 totaled 596, compared to 509 in 2021.
The Commission remains committed to safe operations at the Airport, and encourages community members to share questions or concerns:
Questions about ground operations should be directed to the Airport Manager, by email or by calling 508-945-9000. Messages will be returned as soon as possible.
Questions about Airport policy should be addressed to the Commission, by email or by calling 508-945-5109. Messages will be returned as soon as practicable.
Reports about low-flying aircraft, drone/UAV, bird/wildlife strike, military aircraft operation, or other in-air operations should be directed to the FAA’s Reporting Hotline online here or by calling 1-800-255-1111.
Awarded for Excellence in Financial Reporting
The Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada has awarded the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting to the Town of Chatham for its annual comprehensive financial report for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2021. The report has been judged by an impartial panel to meet the high standards of the program, which includes demonstrating a constructive "spirit of full disclosure" to clearly communicate its financial story and motivate potential users and user groups to read the report.
The Certificate of Achievement is the highest form of recognition in the area of governmental accounting and financial reporting, and its attainment represents a significant accomplishment by a government and its management.
Additionally, Finance Director Alix Heilala received an Award of Financial Reporting Achievement as the individual designated as instrumental in the government unit achieving a Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting.
Congratulations to Director Heilala and the entire Finance Department!
Coffee with the Chief
Please join the Council on Aging staff in welcoming Police Chief Mike Anderson to the Center for Active Living, 193 Stony Hill Road, on Wednesday, January 18th from 9 -10 a.m.
Stop by and have a coffee with Chief Anderson. He is looking forward to meeting you, listening to your concerns, and discussing your ideas on how the Police Department can better serve our community.
Mobile Pantry Available
Are you over 60 and in need of assistance with food costs? With the increased cost of staples, fuel and energy, many are struggling to purchase groceries. Your Chatham Council on Aging can help!
The Mobile Pantry (a program offered by the Family Pantry of Cape Cod) partners with several Councils on Aging on Cape Cod, including Chatham, in order to provide healthy foods for the Cape's older adults.
Once registered, on a monthly basis, you simply fill in a pre-printed order form with your food choices, and your groceries are delivered to the Center for Active Living for pickup. Chatham has a distribution once a month on the third Wednesday of the month. To enroll, please call Leah LaCross, Director of Community Services, at the Chatham Center for Active Living at 508-945-5190 for more information. There is no cost to participate.
The Family Pantry of Cape Cod is a non-profit, non-denominational organization, staffed by over 650 volunteers and a full-time executive director. The main Pantry is housed in a large warehouse on Queen Anne Road in Harwich MA.
Parade in Search of a Theme
Put on your thinking caps this month and come up with a fabulous theme for the 2023 Independence Day Parade.
All suggestions must be submitted for consideration to the Independence Day Parade Committee by Wednesday, February 15th.
Submissions can be submitted online or download the form and submit it by email. If you have any trouble, contact the Committee by email.
Next Select Board Meeting - January 17, 2023 @ 5:30 p.m.
All are welcome to attend and participate in our open and public meetings. The agenda for each meeting is posted 48 business hours prior to the scheduled meeting time and can be accessed through the Select Board’s webpage.
Attend in-person at the Town Office Annex, Large Meeting Room. Join the meeting on-line or participate by phone by dialing 1-508-945-4410 and entering Conference ID 203 386 491#.
I. Minutes
January 3, 2023
II. Public Announcements and Agenda Item Requests
III. Public Comments on Business Agenda
IV. Business Agenda (Board Discussion Items)
A. Town Manager’s Fiscal Year 2024 Operating and Capital Budget Summary and Budget Recommendations Transmittal (July 1, 2023 – June 30, 2024)
