From the Manager's Desk
We are excited to announce that we are launching our first annual Civics Academy this fall. The 2025 Academy will kick-off on September 10 and will meet through November 19. Residents will be led through 11 sessions focusing on the operations of Town government on Wednesdays from 6PM to 8PM.
Residents will hear directly from Town staff and volunteers about the role and functions of our many departments and some of our key boards and committees. They will learn about Brewster personnel and services, and gain a fresh perspective about different areas of local government with which they might not be as familiar.
This new program is a great way to engage with our residents to help them better understand what it takes to provide services in our community and what opportunities exist for them to get more involved. We are looking forward to showcasing the interesting and complicated work that goes on behind the scenes every day on behalf of our residents.
The 2025 Academy will have 25 available slots and pre-registration is required. To register, residents can find the application materials and more information on the Town Manager’s page on the Town website.
We hope to see you there!
Peter Lombardi
Town Manager
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Table of Contents
From the Manager's Desk
Civics Academy
Committee Corner
Golf Commission
Department Profile
Golf
Meet Our Team
Jay Packett,
Director of Golf Operations
Project Updates
Nauset Elementary School Efficiency & Regionalization Study
Sea Camps Spotlight
Resident Feedback
In Focus
Select Board Reorganization & Goal Setting
Seasonal Items
Outdoor Water Restrictions
Community Pool Drop-in
Events
July 4th Fireworks
Brewster Band Summer Concert Series
Brewster Conservation Day
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Committee Corner
Golf Commission
2nd & 4th Tuesdays at 4pm
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Captains Golf Course:
Proudly An Enterprise Fund
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The role of the Golf Commission is to support the Director of Operations, Course Superintendent, and Town Staff in the successful management of Captains Golf Course as an Enterprise Fund. This ensures that all expenses that the course incurs are covered by the revenues received by the course. Operations and maintenance are the two major components of our expense budget.
Drafting and updating our 10 Year Capital Improvement Plan allows us to achieve the best available product for members and daily fee players. Currently, we are in the midst of three large projects: the Maintenance Building (design currently underway), Water Source and Supply (a study to help determine critical information about our wells), and Irrigation System Replacement. Close monitoring of these initiatives is essential to remain compliant with the requirements of the Enterprise Fund and in maintaining the high standards that our members have come to expect at Captains Golf course.
The Commission also keeps a close eye on membership numbers, and employs unique marketing strategies for the daily fee players, which helps us to realize an adequate revenue stream to meet the yearly budget.
We set our rates based on the annually updated Financial Forecast and Capital Plan to ensure future year projected revenues align with estimated expenses and to create consistency in annual rate increases.
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Meet the Chair
Jay Paggi
Years served: 2
Q: What is one thing you wish the public knew about the commission?
How serious we take our role to maintain a successful operation as an Enterprise Fund.
Q: What is one of your favorite things about Brewster?
General answer: The manner in which the Town has evolved over the last 4 decades. Specific answer: The Captains Golf Course.
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Meet a Member
Dave Valcourt
Years served: 8
Q: What motivated you to serve on this commission?
My love for the game of golf. I view my service as an opportunity to learn about and participate in Brewster's town government. My many years of Army service have added value to the collective talent resident in Captain's golf commission.
Q: What is one of your favorite things about Brewster?
Near year round recreational opportunities for golf and world class fishing.
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The Captains Golf Course is Cape Cod's premiere 36-hole public facility, featuring two championship courses. Each hole at Captains golf course is named after a ship's captain, all with ties to Brewster. Averaging 90,000 rounds of golf per calendar year, it is one of the most sought out golf destinations on Cape Cod. The facility includes a driving range, two practice greens, a pro shop and Freemans Grill restaurant.
Captains Golf course was featured in Golfing Magazine, the Northeast's premier golf magazine, for providing fantastic golf and beautiful scenery for golfers of all skill levels.
Captains is much more than just a golf course; it also provides measurable economic value to the Brewster community and employees 100 full-time, part-time and seasonal positions. The golf course has contributed to the reduction in nitrogen pollution by cutting back on how much land is fertilized, lowering the amount of fertilizer applied and by using GPS-guided equipment to target specific areas only. These actions have resulted in a 1,124 kg/year reduction in nitrogen runoff and accounts for 87% of Brewster's nitrogen reduction target under the Town's Watershed Permit.
The Captains Golf Course offers a memorable golfing experience with a well-maintained course, excellent facilities and community-focused atmosphere.
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Meet Our Team
Jay Packett
Director of Operations
Golf Department
Years as Director: 4.5
Years with Brewster: 25
Q: What is one of your favorite things about your position?
Being able to be around the game of golf on a daily basis is incredible.
The team at Captains Golf Course is truly amazing. From the professional staff, maintenance staff, seasonal staff, and restaurant staff, we are all committed to creating the best golf experience for every player!
Q: What is one of your favorite things about Cape Cod?
The fall is my favorite thing about the Cape. The weather is beautiful and we have gotten through the busy season.
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Captains Celebrates 40th Anniversary
In 1983, Town Meeting approved construction of an 18-hole golf course on the "low value land in South Brewster." Through careful planning, a feasibility study and the recognition in the value of recreation, the course was opened in May 1985.
Girard Healy, a member of both the Golf Commission and the Captains, serves as executive editor of "The Captains Course, 40 Years 1985-2025" a commemorative publication celebrating four decades of the Captains Golf Course. This special edition is currently available for purchase at the Pro Shop.
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Project Update
Nauset Elementary Schools & Middle School Efficiency & Regionalization Study
In late 2024, the Towns of Brewster, Orleans, and Eastham were awarded a $150,000 grant through the Massachusetts Community Compact Cabinet's Efficiency & Regionalization program to conduct a study to explore opportunities for improving efficiency and sustainability across the Nauset region's elementary schools and the middle school. The towns are also contributing to the costs of this shared initiative.
The study is aimed at examining key areas such as enrollment trends, operating expenses, and capital needs of the district's schools which include Stony Brook, Eddy, Orleans, Eastham and Wellfleet Elementary Schools and the Nauset Middle School.
Brewster has taken the lead for this study on behalf of the other Nauset towns and school administration. Proposals for this study have been submitted and reviewed by a Selection Committee that includes representatives from all towns, School Committees, and Nauset Administration.
The project will get underway this summer and is expected to be completed by June 2026. We will share out ways for residents and key stakeholders to get involved in the coming months.
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Following the December 2024 special election vote, the Sea
Camps Advisory Committee engaged the Brewster community
through listening sessions and an online survey to better
understand residents’ ideas, questions, and concerns about the phased implementation of the Sea Camps Comprehensive Plans. We benefited from a lot of very constructive feedback. This spring, the Committee analyzed your input and categorized it into the following sections:
- Community Value
- Financial and Tax Implications
- Property Access and Use
- Ecology, Habitat, and Open Space
- Affordable Housing and Wastewater Treatment
- Community Center
- Planning Process and Communication
The Sea Camps Comprehensive Planning Resident Feedback Summary Report was released in late June. Over the past several months, the Town has also engaged in an extensive value engineering exercise in response to community concerns about the potential financial impacts of implementing the plans. Those recommendations are expected to be released in late July.
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In Focus
At the June 2 Select Board meeting, the Board welcomed two new members and reorganized the Board's leadership. Mary Chaffee was elected to serve as Chair for the next year and Amanda Bebrin will serve as Vice Chair. Ned Chatelain was elected to serve as the Board's Clerk. Pete (Harvey) Dahl and Caroline McCarley began their three-year terms.
Consistent with the Town charter, the Brewster Select Board will meet for annual goal setting later this summer. At this session, the Select Board will develop an updated Strategic Plan that reflects our current community goals. This document serves as a guide to prioritizing initiatives and policies across the organization over the next two years. Their Plan is grounded in the Town's Local Comprehensive Plan, and it is informed by feedback from residents, Town officials, and other key stakeholders. The Town is seeking community input regarding the values and principles that they think are most important for the Select Board to consider as part of their goal setting process. Residents are encouraged to send comments to the Town Manager’s Office at townmanager@brewster-ma.gov by Friday July 18.
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Community Pool Drop in Days
- Sunday, July 13
- Monday, July 21
- Saturday, August 2
- Friday, August 8
Residents without a pool membership are welcome to enjoy the pool on these dates for $5/day per person (cash only).
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Mandatory Outdoor Water Restrictions
Due to low groundwater levels and drought conditions, the Water Commission has imposed mandatory limits on all non-essential outdoor watering. Outdoor watering shall occur from 4am - 8am and from 5pm - 9pm as follows:
- Even # street addresses on even calendar days
- Odd # street addresses on odd calendar days
| | | We are pleased to announce that funding was approved for the second year of the Brewster Preschool Family Support Program. Guidelines and application materials will be available by August 1st. This program provides up to $3,000 in funding for families with children ages 3 or 4 years old by August 31, 2025, to help cover the costs of preschool services by a certified childcare provider. Please contact the Town Manager's office with any questions, townmanager@brewster-ma.gov or (508) 896-3701 x1100. | |
4th of July Fireworks
The Town of Orleans will host their annual fireworks display at Rock Harbor on Wednesday July 2, 2025 at dusk.
Fireworks can be viewed from nearby Brewster bayside beaches such as Crosby and Linnell Landing.
*State laws prohibit citizens from using, possessing, or selling fireworks. Local law prohibits beach fires on any Town owned beaches.
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Brewster Band
Concerts in the Park
An annual summer tradition, the Brewster Band concerts will be held at Drummer Boy Park on Sundays at 6pm from July to Labor Day this summer.
Concerts are always free - donations are appreciated.
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Brewster Conservation Day
Trees: Superheroes of the Natural World!
Join us at the Sea Camps Bay property on Saturday July 12th from 9:30am to 1:30pm. This free event will include new expanded activities and events with over 40 exhibitors celebrating the community's natural resources and coastal habitat.
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