Chatham Town Meeting Warrant Preview Covers 71 Articles, Three Ballot Questions

CHATHAM -- April 29, 2019, Chatham's town manager previews a 71-article warrant ahead of the May 13, 2019 Annual Town Meeting. Town Manager Jill Goldsmith and Finance Director Alex Halavela walked through a proposed $30,882,921 operating budget, up 1.34 percent, and a projected fiscal 2020 tax rate of $5.00 per thousand, compared to $4.85 this year. The largest ask is a $6.6 million Council on Aging facility on Middle Road, backed by the Board of Selectmen 5-0 but by the Finance Committee only 6-2; the Friends of the Chatham Council on Aging have committed $250,000 toward costs. A $7,150,000 wastewater Phase 1E expansion drew unanimous 9-0 Finance Committee support. A citizen petition to rename the Board of Selectmen to "Select Board" passed the board itself on a narrow 3-2 vote. Both the COA borrowing and wastewater articles require two-thirds Town Meeting votes and separate ballot question approval at the May 16 town election.