Airport charging stations, waterfront plans: What voters said 'no' to in Chatham Monday

CHATHAM — Town meeting voters easily rejected a new Chatham Airport approach map Monday night.

The vote count was 158 for the article and 306 opposing it.

About 500 voters gathered in the gymnasium at Monomoy Regional Middle School to participate in Monday evening's annual town meeting. All 47 articles on the warrant were decided and a second night is not needed.

Many residents spoke against the airport article, worrying about expansion and raising environmental concerns about trees being cut around the area. Airport officials said the new map is a safety issue that would make the town bylaws conform with federal guidelines.

"It's called a municipal airport for a reason .... I am not sure why the airport commission is attempting to make it more commercial-friendly," said Susan Wilcox, a former airport commissioner.

The article called for replacing the February 1958 Chatham Airport approach zone map in the town's general bylaws with a new version meant to "implement the Airport Commission's ongoing efforts to improve safety for pilots, aircraft passengers and everyone on the ground in the Airport's vicinity," according to the warrant.

The town said the current map is outdated because since 1958 there have been several changes to the airspace used by aircraft arriving and departing the airport, including regulatory input from the Federal Aviation Administration.

Charging stations at the Chatham airport

An article for charging stations for electric vehicles at the airport also failed, with 177 supporting the measure and 348 opposing.

Chatham's $40 million town budget

Voters approved the $40 million town operating budget, which represents an increase of $1.9 million or 5.24% over the last fiscal year's budget, according to the town. The budget has no impact to the current tax rate of $3.57, according to Town Manager Jill Goldsmith.

"Increases in each budget category are predominantly related to wages for approximately 150 town employees as well as seasonal staffing which comprises about 42% of our workforce," said Goldsmith.

Waterfront projects

Two articles seeking approval for bonds − one for a $2.9 million bond for upgrades to the transfer station and another for an $11.4 million bond for waterfront infrastructure projects − both failed. Both measures needed a two-thirds majority vote in order to pass.

The bond for the waterfront projects would have helped cover the cost to finish the 90 Bridge St. project. One resident said he voted against the article, saying he remembered when the town bought 90 Bridge St. and "nothing has been done to improve that piece of property for recreational boaters."

"I'm tired of us, this town, having to waste their money and time waiting for something to happen," said the resident.

Monomoy Regional Middle School and housing

An article seeking $2.5 million to renovate and reconstruct the exterior siding of Monomoy Regional Middle School passed. About 75% of the project will be paid for by Harwich while the rest will come from Chatham, but the whole amount needs to be appropriated.

A citizen petition that would allow the Select Board to pursue purchasing year-round housing occupancy deed restrictions was indefinitely postponed, with some voters saying more time was needed to examine the article.

TOWN MEETING RESULTS

Zane Razzaq writes about housing and real estate. Reach her at zrazzaq@capecodonline.com. Follow her on X @zanerazz.

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This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: Chatham town meeting: Voters shut down these town plans, spending