From the Manager's Desk
On Monday November 17, close to 300 voters attended Special Town Meeting at the Stony Brook Elementary School and approved all 14 articles. Highlights included:
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Community Preservation Act funding for two new Habitat for Humanity affordable homes on Brewster Conservation Trust land on Main Street and an update to the Town's 5-Year Community Preservation Plan
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$2.75M for critical Town-wide capital projects, including investments in our facilities, infrastructure, and fleet
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$1.07M for Sea Camps capital improvements consistent with the Town's new phasing and financing plan, including funds for design of dune restoration, water main enhancements, new parking, building demolition, and tennis courts as well as upgrades to existing structures on the Bay Property for workforce housing
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Purchasing a Conservation Restriction on Thachers Bog in Harwich to meet state regulatory requirements for nitrogen reduction in the Herring River watershed
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Revising the Town's Accessory Dwelling Unit Zoning Bylaw to conform with recent changes in state law
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Codifying the Alewife Committee's vital role in working with stakeholders to manage our local river herring fisheries
Countless hours are devoted to developing the warrant for Town Meeting. On behalf of the many Brewster Town officials - both staff and volunteers - who contributed to help bring these issues to Town Meeting for your consideration, thank you to the residents who attended and participated in Town Meeting.
Peter Lombardi
Town Manager
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Table of Contents
From the Manager's Desk
Special Town Meeting Recap
Committee Corner
Community Preservation Committee
Department Profile
Police Department
Meet Our Team
Chief Heath Eldredge
Project Updates
Crosby Mansion Historic Chimney Preservation
Sea Camps Spotlight
Brewster Conservation Trust Gift Agreements
Getting to Know Your Select Board
Ned Chatelain, Clerk
In Focus
Civics Academy Graduation
Serenity One Stop Grant
Seasonal Items
Recycle Holiday Lights
Top Dog
Holiday Community Events
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Committee Corner
Community Preservation Committee
2nd & 4th Wednesdays of the Month | 4pm
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Funding Affordable Housing, Recreation, Open Space & Historical Preservation | | |
One of the key responsibilities of the Community Preservation Committee (CPC) is to consider the needs, possibilities, and resources of the community with regards to community preservation. The CPC collaborates with other municipal boards and committees to address the Town's community preservation needs. Annually, the committee holds a public hearing to gather input from the general public and preview projects that might arise in the coming years.
The Community Preservation Committee accepts and reviews project proposals from the community in the areas of historic, affordable housing, recreation, and open space twice a year. A thorough review of each application is completed by CPC members, as well as Community Preservation Act funding sources and CPA eligibility.
The Community Preservation Committee presents its project recommendations at every Town Meeting. It is then up to Brewster voters to approve the funding requests presented in the warrant.
The committee's work doesn't end at Town Meeting though. The CPC follows approved projects through to their completion.
Examples of recent CPC funded projects:
- Accessible benches, picnic tables, and pathways at Freemans Way Fields
- Brewster's Housing Coordinator position
- Chimney restoration and exterior carpentry projects at Crosby Mansion
- Stony Brook Playground replacement (jointly sponsored with Nauset Youth Alliance and the Brewster School Committee)
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Meet the Chair
Sarah Robinson
Years served: 3
Q: What is one thing you wish the public knew about the CPC?
We serve the town and have a very transparent process and enjoy input from those who have interest in particular projects.
Q: What is one of your favorite things about Brewster?
A very difficult question as I have been here for over 35 years, but it is the people in this community who make it the best town on the Cape.
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Meet a Member
Faythe Ellis
Served Since 2017 as
the Historical Commission Representative
Q: What motivated you to serve on the committee?
I appreciate that the work of the CPC is interesting and multi-faceted - the projects the committee recommends to Town Meeting have been impactful on a variety of fronts. I have particularly enjoyed getting to know and working alongside the other CPC members, many of whom have long tenures on the CPC. While my particular interest is preservation of Brewster history, I am very proud of the CPC's advocacy for affordable housing projects and grateful for voters' support of those projects.
Q: What is one of your favorite things about Brewster?
I am so incredibly fortunate to have grown up here and to still live here surrounded by friends and family. The beautiful Brewster beaches are world class.
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Department Profile
Police Department
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The Brewster Police Department, established in 1954, is a professional organization that preserves the peace and protects the community through crime prevention, emergency response, and fair effective law enforcement.
As first responders, the Department rapidly assesses and stabilizes a crime or incident scene, deescalates conflict, assists with medical services, and ensures the safety of our valued residents, businesses and visitors.
The department's motto is "in partnership with our community", recognizing that police departments gain their legitimacy from the support of the community they serve. Brewster Police Department participates in community policing initiatives such as their Youth Academy, Senior Reassurance Program, Coffee with a Cop, and High School Internship programs.
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"I consider it an honor to serve in such a great community that has always showed tremendous support for its police department."
- Chief Eldredge
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Meet Our Team
Heath Eldredge
Police Chief
Served since 2002
Q: What is one of your favorite things about your position?
In my position, I am able to be a resource for members of the community who are in need of police services, while I also get to be a resource for the men and women who serve on the front line of the department.
Q: What is one of your favorite things about Cape Cod?
I appreciate the seasonality of Cape Cod. I enjoy the hustle and bustle of the summer which brings great weather and lots of activities, but I also enjoy the quieter time of the off season to slow down and recharge.
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Over two decades of use - Dispatch Center gets remodeled
After securing funding approvals from Town Meeting last year, the Police Department dispatch center has recently been remodeled. Police dispatch services are provided in-house by full-time time employees. The two dispatch consoles, which include the radio system, along with the supporting cabinetry and flooring were all replaced as part of this upgrade project.
Everything that was removed was original to the station from when it was first opened in 2001. Over the past 24 years, technology has come a long way. The new radio system allows for easier replay and has better radio identification features. The new primary console has environmental controls, including the ability to convert from a standard sitting desk to a standing desk.
When asked about the importance of the project, Chief Eldredge said, “With the dispatch center being open and operational 24/7, 365 days a year, it is imperative that it is up to today’s standards and comfortable for those who stand ready to answer any variety of emergency and non-emergency calls.”
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Project Update
Crosby Mansion Historic Chimney Restoration & Critical Habitat Preservation
In May 2025, Town Meeting approved $180,000 in Community Preservation Act funding to restore the Crosby Mansion's seven chimneys and complete key exterior carpentry work. The repairs to this historic structure are both cosmetic and structural, including replacement of the copper flashing at the base of some of the chimneys to eliminate water infiltration.
The Crosby Mansion, located on Crosby Lane, is almost 150 years old. It has been painstakingly returned to its original splendor over the past several decades by a group of dedicated volunteers. It is technically owned by the MA Department of Conservation and Recreation but it is long-term leased to the Town and cared for by a year-round Property Manager. It is open for tours during the summer months and hosts numerous public and private events to help cover the costs of maintaining the building and property.
The mansion is also home to chimney swifts that roost in the chimneys during the spring and summer months. As one of the last known swift roosting locations on Cape Cod, when it came time for critical chimney repairs, Property Manager Richard Archer consulted with Stephanie Ellis, Executive Director of Wild Care.
Ellis believes it is likely that the swifts have been annually returning to roost at the historic mansion for decades. Chimney swifts are endangered migratory birds once abundant but now in decline due to lack of natural nest sites, chimney capping, and pesticides. While they nest in North America, they migrate all the way to Peru and locations along the Amazon Basin. To help preserve their adopted Brewster habitat, several of the chimneys will remain uncapped.
The chimney restoration and other exterior improvements to the mansion are expected to be completed by next spring.
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Brewster Conservation Trust Gift Agreements
At their December 1 meeting, the Brewster Select Board approved two gift agreements with the Brewster Conservation Trust, furthering the Town's partnership with BCT on the Sea Camps properties.
The first agreement provides $230,000 to the Town to advance certain ecological projects on the Pond Property including expansion and improvement of trails, building demolition, replanting, and stormwater improvements. These enhancements are all identified in the Comprehensive Plan adopted by Town Meeting in May 2024. BCT previously donated $1M to the Town to cover a portion of the costs to purchase the Pond Property. BCT will hold a conservation restriction, jointly with Mass Audubon, on over 56 acres of the Pond Property.
The second agreement pledges $1,000,000 in funding to be provided to the Town from BCT through the generosity of the Brewster Foundation. The Town will receive $100,000 each year over the next decade to make conservation-related investments in the Pond and Bay Properties. Over the first 5 years, the Town will receive $50,000 a year for each property. For the final 5 years, the Town will receive $100,000 annually to help pay for Bay Property improvements such as the pollinator meadow, sand dune restoration, tree plantings, and other similar re-wilding activities.
This injection of significant additional funding was incorporated into the Town's updated phasing and financing plans for the Sea Camps properties presented to residents this fall and helped to finance important capital improvements without issuing debt.
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Getting to Know Your Select Board!
Meet Member
Ned Chatelain
Elected June 2020
Q: What is one thing you wish the public knew about the Select Board?
How available and accessible we are. Before being elected, I would have been hesitant to call or email the Select Board. But as a board member I love it when folks reach out to me directly with questions or concerns.
What is one of your favorite things about Brewster?:
One!?! Paine's Creek at low tide. Stony Brook mill in the fall. Walking around Cliff Pond in the snow. Brewster in Bloom festivities. The Drummer Boy Park tree lighting.
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In Focus
Congratulations Civics Academy!
| | Civics Academy Participants, Select Board, Town Administration 2025 | |
Brewster’s inaugural Civics Academy wrapped up on December 1st with a graduation ceremony at the Select Board meeting. This new program was a way to strengthen engagement with our residents by giving them a closer look at how town government works and what it takes to deliver services in our community.
Over the course of 11 weeks, 24 residents gathered each Wednesday evening at various locations throughout town, interacting with staff, departments, boards, and committees. Participants gained a behind the scenes understanding of town operations and the collaborative effort that keeps Brewster running.
Congratulations to our first graduating class and we look forward to continuing this program in the future!
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| One Stop for Growth Award Ceremony Group Photo, Photo Credit - Mass Governor's Office | | |
Serenity One Stop Grant
We are pleased to share that the Town was a recipient of a $500,000 State of Massachusetts One Stop Housing Choice grant. This grant will assist with the creation of 23 new units of rental housing at Serenity Brewster, 12 of which will be affordable.
In partnership with Elevation Financial, this grant, combined with an award of $700,000 from Brewster Affordable Housing Trust, will assist in the creation of the 23 more rental units by repurposing underutilized space and using the on-site wastewater treatment system.
Serenity Brewster is a former nursing and skilled nursing facility that was rehabilitated into 132 rental units, available to households 55+ with 27 of the current units being affordable to those up to 80% of the area median income. These are the first funds that the Town has contributed toward Elevation Financials’ redevelopment of the property.
The combination of $1.2M in state and local financial support allows Serenity to increase the percentage of affordable units at this location from 20 to 25. Accordingly, after these new units are constructed (expected by the end of calendar year 2026), it is anticipated that all of the housing units at Serenity will count toward the Town’s Subsidized Housing Inventory (SHI), which would increase to 9.7%.
The Town of Brewster, through its Housing Office and Affordable Housing Trust, continues to work on the goals and strategies in our Housing Production Plan with the support of the Select Board, our residents, and the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities (EOHLC). Our commitment to create more housing options within our community has been bolstered by this Housing Choice Grant.
"This is an incredible opportunity for us to help meet the housing needs of Brewster's seniors. We're grateful to both EOHLC and Serenity at Brewster for their partnership.”
-Ned Chatelain, Chair of the Brewster Affordable Housing Trust & Select Board Clerk
| | Mango, Brewster's Top Dog 2025 | |
Brewster's Annual Top Dog Contest
Submit a 4X6 photo of your precious pooch to the Town's Clerk Office by December 24, 2025
The contest is limited to the first 75 entrants. Photos must be recent (within the year). Any licensed dog residing in Brewster may enter; previous winners are ineligible (sorry, Mango).
The 2026 Top Dog will receive:
- License fee waived for the year
- Dog tag indicating #1 status
- Dog Gift Basket (donated by Agway)
- Picture posted to Town website & displayed in the Clerk's office
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Holiday Light Recycling
Now available at the Recycling Center
Holiday lights are recyclable but they don't belong in the recycling! There is a separate bin for holiday lights located inside the door of the main facility.
Need help finding it? Ask a staff member!
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Brewster Holiday Community Events
Tree Lighting & Santa's Arrival
Friday December 5 | 4pm at Drummer Boy Park
Kick off the season with the Brewster Chamber of Commerce's traditional tree and windmill lighting and a grand entrance by Santa, arriving by Brewster fire truck! Unwrapped toys will be collected to be donated to Toys for Tots.
Brewster Fire Homeless for the Holidays
December 3-7
Brewster Fire Local 3763 & Brewster Fire Association will be camping outside Immaculate Conception Church (2580 Main Street) collecting unwrapped toys, monetary donations and non-perishable foods for the Family Pantry of Cape Cod. Stop by with items to support local families in need.
Brewster Police "Stuff a Cruiser" Toy Drive
Saturday December 6
The Brewster Police Department and the Village Toy Store will be collecting new, unwrapped toy between 11am and 3pm at Lemon Tree Village to "stuff a cruiser" with toys for Toys for Tots.
Brewster Ladies Library Giving Tree
Stop by the library to choose an ornament with a child's name and gift wishes, then return your wrapped gift and ornament by December 16. This event is in partnership with the Department of Children and Families to collect gifts for their Family-to-Family program.
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