From the Town Manager's Desk
It is amazing what a difference two weeks makes.
I want to extend a sincere thank you to all of the departments who assisted during the Blizzard of 2026, with particular emphasis on the amazing job that our public works team did and the leadership of our Fire and Police Chiefs in coordinating emergency management efforts, both locally and regionally. It was a herculean task. The recovery and clean-up will continue over the coming weeks, but our team will continue to rise to the challenge.
I know it was an incredibly difficult week for many of our Brewster residents, but we welcomed 300 people to our warming station at Town Hall where a strong sense of community shone through. We thank our CERT volunteers and Town staff for assisting with our emergency response efforts. We also want to thank residents who reached out to their neighbors and friends during the storm to make sure they were okay and to offer a helping hand.
At times like this, I am especially proud to be the Town Manager of such a caring community and to lead such a dedicated team. With the snow somehow suddenly almost all melted away, we welcome spring this year with open arms and look forward to Brewster being in Bloom.
Peter Lombardi
Town Manager
| |
Table of Contents
From the Manager's Desk
Blizzard 2026
Committee Corner
Finance Committee
Department Profile
Finance/Accounting
Meet Our Team
Mimi Bernardo,
Finance Director
Sarah Piebes,
Assistant Town Accountant
Project Updates
Captains Projects
Sea Camps Spotlight
Pond Property Update
Getting to Know Your Select Board
Caroline McCarley
In Focus
Capital Planning
Important Dates
Spring Town Meeting
Seasonal Items
Open Burning Season
Debris Fee Waiver
Fix It Clinic
2026 Top Dog Winner
London
| | |
Committee Corner
Finance Committee
2nd & 4th Wednesdays | 6PM
| | Keeping Track of Brewster's Finances | | |
Brewster’s finances can be both varied and routine. Many revenues such as property taxes and ongoing expenses are relatively consistent and occur every year. The costs of educating Brewster children at our elementary schools and at the middle and high schools in partnership with the other Nauset towns account for about half of Brewster's annual operating budget. Major capital expenditures, like the acquisition of the Sea Camps property, only occur periodically, but the Town also regularly invests in its facilities, fleet, and properties through routine capital funding requests.
All of these financial expenditures are subject to review by the Finance Committee. These operating and capital expenditure reviews occur year-round but the Committee meets more frequently in the months before Town Meeting in order to provide our recommendations on budget and capital proposals being brought to Brewster voters for their consideration. We will be meeting every week until the warrant closes in early April. The Finance Committee also provides a report to Town Meeting on the Town's budget and finances in the Annual Town Meeting warrant each spring.
"Committee meetings reflect the best practices of public service, and members seek to provide the highest level of confidence, professionalism, and understanding for the financial affairs of the Town." - Andy Evans, Chair
| |
Meet the Chair
Andy Evans
Years served: 5 1/2 years
Q: What is one thing you wish the public knew about the committee?
The amount of volunteer time members give to Finance Committee meetings and the professionalism they exhibit in this work.
Q: What is one of your favorite things about Brewster?
The ability to be in the woods and then in less than five minutes be on the beach.
| |  |
Meet a Member
Robert Tobias
Years served: 2
Q: What are your thoughts on the Finance Committee?
I think its main role is to ensure that we have good government. We want to make sure that the money the town is given from taxpayers is well spent.
Q: What is one of your favorite things about Brewster?
I like our form of government, which is annual Town Meeting - the most pure form of direct democracy. But most importantly, I like eating the oysters from Oyster Sunday.
| | |
Department Profile
Finance/Accounting
| | The Accounting Office supports the Town internally. We rarely interact with members of the public. Our 'customers' are mostly department heads, administrative assistants, and other finance staff, such as the Payroll & Benefits Coordinator and Treasurer/Collector. | |
Meet Our Team
Mimi Bernardo
Finance Director
Years served: 6.5
Q: What is one of your favorite things about your position?
Being able to work with other department heads who are competent and experts in their field.
Q: What is one of your favorite things about Cape Cod?
Going to the Lobster Pot in Ptown in the summer.
| |
Sarah Piebes
Assistant Town Accountant
Years served: 7.5
Q: What is one of your favorite things about your position?
I have a little connection to each department so I get to know what is going on around town a bit. Between seeing the bills and what departments are purchasing or handling departmental grants, you get an idea of what the departments are up to.
Q: What is one of your favorite things about Cape Cod?
Definitely the beaches. Does everyone say that? They really are different than beaches anywhere else. I love them!
| |
Financial Software Conversion
Over the past six months, the Finance Director and Finance Team have been working to transition the Town's accounting software from Vadar to Munis (Tyler Technologies). The project is partially funded through a $100,000 state grant.
The new software offers several features that make it easier to gather and process information. The software allows for custom reports, which can be automatically generated on a recurring basis. This feature has been well received by department heads and administrative assistants to actively monitor their spending.
The first milestone of the conversion, moving over our Financials module to the new platform, was successfully completed last August.
The next phase of the conversion, which includes the Human Resources, Payroll, and Tax modules, is currently underway. Payroll is expected to go live on July 1, with the Tax module expected to be implemented prior to the October 2026 tax billing.
The final phase of the project will include water utility billing and collections. The full conversion, including integration with our online budget platform, OpenGov, is expected to take approximately 18 months to complete.
While any software upgrade of this scale is a lot of work for staff, the ease of use and improved integration will enable Town staff to continue to provide high quality accounting and stewardship of tax payer funds. This is another example of Brewster's commitment to financial efficiency and transparency.
| | |
Project Update
Captains Golf Course
Several important facility improvement projects are underway or moving forward at Captains Golf Course. These investments will enhance both the appearance and functionality of the course for members, guests, and staff.
-
Clubhouse Roof Replacement Project - Despite the weather, the roof replacement project is substantially completed.
-
Clubhouse Restroom Renovation - These upgrades will be fully completed in the next week - just in time for the reopening of the course and Freemans Grille this spring.
-
Exterior Painting Project -This project recently went out to bid; however, bids came in higher than anticipated. Additional funds will be sought at the May Town Meeting and the project will go back out to bid to be completed in the Fall of 2026.
-
Golf Maintenance Building Replacement - Recently, the Golf Commission and Select Board both voted to move forward with this project based on the preliminary design report and cost estimates prepared by Weston & Sampson. In late January, a kickoff meeting was held with the Weston & Sampson design team and Owners Project Manager, Pomroy & Associates. A timeline for design, permitting and construction has been established and design work, in conjunction with Golf maintenance staff and the project team, is ongoing. The goals is to go out to bid prior to the November 2026 Town Meeting.
| | | |
Sea Camps Spotlight
Pond Property Update
| | |
At the November 2025, Town Meeting, initial funding was approved for permitting and design to implement site improvements outlined in the Pond Property Comprehensive plan. Administration has been working with the value engineering team of Weston & Sampson and EDR to start the preliminary permitting process for Pond Property Improvements which includes finalizing wetland delineation areas with the Conservation Commission. The Town has completed a full survey of the property.
In recent months, the Town has drafted and submitted a Conservation Restriction on 60 acres of the property which will be held jointly by the Brewster Conservation Trust and Mass Audubon. The MA Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs is currently reviewing the Conservation Restriction, which is expected to be finalized and approved this spring.
Once the restriction is recorded, Mass Audubon will release their remaining $500,000 contribution to the Town, at which point the entire $6M acquisition cost will have been paid of with no excluded debt or tax bill impacts. Consistent with our ongoing partnership, BCT will also contribute another $230,000 to the Town for certain ecological improvements on the Pond Property once the restriction is recorded.
Some of these improvements include:
- New all-persons access trail and other trail improvements
- Removal of buildings
- Stormwater improvements
- Public amenities such as kayak racks
- Additional ADA parking and drop-off areas
In January 2026, the Select Board tasked the Brewster Affordable Housing Trust (BAHT) with conducting a housing feasibility study, including community engagement, for the 10 acres of the Pond Property that was designated for Community Housing and Wastewater in the May 2024 Town Meeting Comprehensive Plan vote.
The BAHT discussed a work plan for the feasibility process during their February and March monthly meetings. On March 5, the BAHT approved a work plan to conduct the feasibility study as well a grant application to Mass Housing Partnership for technical assistance with the feasibility study. At their April meeting, the BAHT will discuss potential community engagement opportunities with Barrett Planning.
The BAHT will provide quarterly progress reports to the Select Board on the feasibility study. Once the study is completed, the Select Board intends to share out information and seek voter approval at Town Meeting before any next steps are taken regarding the future of those 10 acres. The BAHT meets the first Thursday of the month at 5pm.
| | |
Getting to Know Your
Select Board
Meet Caroline McCarley
Elected May 2025
Q: What is one thing you wish the public knew about the Select Board?
I wish the public knew how infrequently citizens contact Select Board members. We really do want to know what folks are thinking and feeling about everything going on in our community. We sometimes get a flurry of emails but, most of the time, we seldom hear from folks. Please write us whenever you think to yourself, “I ought to write my Select Board member.”
Q: What is one of your favorite things about Brewster?
We do not lack for experts on literally everything about our beautiful community, including our beaches, ponds, woods, roads, and everything else you can think of (which is why I wish people would contact us more on all these issues).
Office Hours
The Select Board hosts office hours the 1st Wednesday of each month at rotating locations. A different Select Board member takes part each month with either our Town Manager or Assistant Town Manager. The Select Board can also be contacted by email at selectboard@brewster-ma.gov.
| |
In Focus
Capital Planning
| | Keeping Brewster in Good Working Order | |
Capital projects come to life! Behind every funding request is a story and a 5-year Capital Improvement Plan (CIP). Brewster uses OpenGov to provide a user-friendly, online platform for residents to explore upcoming capital projects. Designed with the public in mind, the CIP Hub has brief descriptions, pictures, and easy to follow spreadsheets for every department and project.
The Capital Improvement Plan provides a blueprint for planning all the community's capital expenditures by aligning the Town’s priority capital needs with available funding sources. It includes programming and budgeting functions, allowing for project scheduling and financial adjustments over a 5-year planning horizon.
The CIP coordinates:
- community planning
- financial capacity
- and infrastructure investment
The capital budget is the upcoming year's spending plan for capital items that will be presented to Town Meeting for approval. Additionally, to inform resident of potential future projects of significance and consistent with our Town Charter, the Town annually publishes a summary of the capital improvement plan in the May Town Meeting Warrant, identifying all proposed capital expenditures for the next 5 years estimated to cost $100,000 or more.
What is a capital expenditure?
A capital expenditure is typically a one-time funding request for a specific capital project. Capital projects involve the physical (or in some cases digital) infrastructure of the Town including facilities, equipment, and properties.
| |
Examples of recent capital projects in Brewster include:
- Linnell Landing ADA Platform Restoration (pictured to the right - coming soon this spring)
- One-Ton Dump Truck Replacement
- Drummer Boy Park Shed & Gazebo Improvements
- Cardiac Monitor Replacement
- Library Roof Replacement Design
Examples of upcoming capital projects seeking Town Meeting approval include:
- Personal Protective Equipment - Fire Department
- Security Improvements - Brewster Elementary Schools
| | Spring 2026 Annual Town Meeting | | |
The Spring Annual Town Meeting will be held on Monday May 4, 2026, at 6:00pm at the Stony Brook Elementary School.
Over the next month, the Select Board and Finance Committee will be reviewing and voting on Town Meeting articles.
The priority deadline to submit a citizen's petition for this meeting was February 18, 2026. Residents interested in submitting a citizen's petition are invited to contact the Town Manager's office for assistance and encouraged to review Brewster's Guide to Citizen's Petition for more information.
What is a citizen's petition? A citizen's petition allows residents to develop and present an article for Town Meeting consideration. Citizens petitions do not need Select Board approval and go through a separate process to be placed on the warrant.
Did you know? The Town Manager's Office is here to help! Staff can provide guidance and/or technical assistance through Town Counsel.
| | |
Open Burning Season (January 15 - May 1)
Don't forget your burn permit! Only $10.
Available at the Fire Station (Monday-Friday 8:30am-4pm) or online via the permit portal.
Looking to burn on any given day? Be sure to call the Fire Department's automated burn line (508) 896-5714 to make sure it is safe to burn and to let them know where you will be burning!
| | |
Debris Fee Waiver at Recycling Center
Through Monday March 30
With clean-up efforts ongoing by residents, the Town has waived the fee for debris at the Recycling Center through Monday March 30, 2026.
We kindly ask that residents help with beach clean-up if possible. All collected debris may be left at the Town landings in the trash enclosures, and our Department of Public Works will collect it. Please report large items to the Department of Natural Resources at (508) 896-4546.
| |
Fix It Clinic
Saturday March 21, 1pm - 3pm
The Waste Reduction and Recycling Commission in partnership with the Brewster Ladies Library will host a Fix It Clinic on Saturday March 21 from 1pm to 3pm. This free repair activity will try to fix your broken items rather than throwing them away. The workspace, tools and guidance are provided by a Fix It Coach who will help to try to fix your items.
Please register for this free event through the Brewster Ladies Library.
| |
Meet Brewster's 2026 Top Dog
London
| | Left to Right: Animal Control Officer Lynda Brogden-Burns , London's Human , Town Clerk Colette WIlliams | | London, A polite paw for a treat | | |
London is a 5-year-old English Crown Golden Retriever who lives in Brewster with her parents and her sister. She loves long walks on the beach and doesn’t mind getting her beautiful white fur a little sandy along the way.
As Brewster’s Top Dog of 2026, London received a gift basket generously donated by Agway, the official #1 dog tag, and a certificate recognizing her as this year’s Top Dog. Thank you to Agway for their generous support, and to everyone who voted and shared their adorable pups with us.
| | | | |
