Chatham Seeks $8.4 Million for New Council on Aging Facility

CHATHAM -- May 19, 2021, Chatham officials presented an $8.4 million plan to replace the town's outdated Council on Aging facility ahead of the June 12 Annual Town Meeting. Town Manager Jill Goldsmith, COA Director Mandy Speakman, and Principal Projects and Operations Administrator Terry Whalen previewed Articles 15 and 16, which together would fund construction of a 10,965-square-foot building at 1610 Main Street, a site whose owner has offered to donate the land to the town. Finance Director Alex Halala projected the first-year debt service at $671,644, translating to a $70.71 annual increase for a home assessed at $900,000. The Select Board voted 5-0 to recommend Article 15; the Finance Committee backed it 3-2-3. Both articles require a two-thirds majority at Town Meeting, and a companion debt-exclusion ballot question is scheduled for the town election on June 17.