From the Assistant Town
Manager's Desk
When the seasons change, so does the municipal clock. Fall is both Special Town Meeting time and the start of our municipal budget cycle. The majority of the Town's capital and special projects are funded with Free Cash, which is certified by the end of the summer - in time to allocate funds for our capital needs which will be considered at the November 16th Special Town Meeting.
For Town Administration, capital planning holds a special place in our overall budget process because we get to see important projects and organizational needs move from an idea to funding to realization. Capital planning is a full circle process. As the procurement officer for the Town, I get a front seat in assisting projects with great community benefit come to fruition. I enjoy driving around town and seeing an idea that started on the capital plan become a reality.
In order to better understand these important capital requests, Town Administration, the Finance Director, and members of the Select Board and Finance Committee all take a capital tour of town departments and facilities annually in the fall. For residents, please visit our budget and capital platform - Table of Contents where you can see pictures and information about each proposed capital item by department.
I am happy to share that the Town's Budget Team has earned the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) National Budget Award for our FY27 Budget and Capital Plan for the fourth year in a row. We strive to provide accessible, comprehensive, user-friendly budget information, including our capital plan.
Wishing you all a happy fall - full of pumpkin spices, apple picking and bonus beach days.
Donna Kalinick,
Assistant Town Manager
| |
Table of Contents
From the Assistant Town Manager's Desk
Committee Corner
Health & Human Services Committee
Department Profile
Town Administration
Meet Our Team
Erika Mawn
Griffin Ryder
Project Updates
Golf Maintenance Facility Funding Goes to Town Meeting
Sea Camps Spotlight
Community Center Needs Assessment
Off Season Closure
Getting to Know Your Select Board
Harvey "Pete" Dahl
In Focus
FY27-28 Select Board Strategic Plan
Election Information
Early In-Person Voting Hours
Vote by Mail Deadlines
Voter Registration Deadlines
Important Dates
Town Meeting - NEW START TIME
Seasonal Items
Flu Clinic
Oyster Sundays
| | |
Committee Corner
Health & Human Services
| | |
Supporting Community Services for the well-being of Brewster Residents | | |
Front Row - Lynda Schuyler, Mary Jo Murphy, Lisa Perkins, Deborah Blackman-Jacobs
Back Row - Anne O'Connell, Patricia Hess, Suzanne Kenney, Sean Parker, Robert Ziegler
| | |
The Health and Human Service Committee reviews applications for funding from non-profit organizations serving our Brewster community. As part of our due diligence, organizations are invited to our meetings to present on their mission and impact to those they serve and relay current changes and challenges they may face in the delivery of their mission.
Applications for funding consideration for FY28 have been sent out to interested non-profits that will be due at the end of October.
Organizations that have received funding include but are not limited to:
- Homeless Prevention Council
- AIDS Support Group of Cape Cod
- Independence House
- Pause-a-While
- Sight Loss Services
- Lower Cape Outreach Council
| |
Meet the Chair
Suzanne Kenney
Years served: 4
Q: What is one thing you wish the public knew about the committee?
I'd like people to know how dedicated committee members are in evaluating funding recommendation for non-profits supporting our Brewster neighbors.
Q: What is one of your favorite things about Brewster?
I love the rural nature and natural beauty of Brewster and I especially like walking the trails of the Punkhorn with my dog.
| |  |
Meet a Member
Patricia Hess
Years served: 12
Q: What motivated you to serve on the board?
Knowing the non-profit agencies in our community that provide incredible support to our Brewster neighbors.
Q: What is one of your favorite things about Brewster?
I appreciate the opportunity that Brewster volunteers have to make an impact on our town.
| | |
Department Profile
Town Administration
| | |
Town Administration is responsible for overseeing and coordinating day-to-day operations of the Town and implementing policies set forth by the Select Board. The Office is comprised of the Town Manager, Assistant Town Manager, Town Engineer & Project Manager, Constituent Services & Communications Coordinator, and Executive Assistant to the Town Manager.
Under the Town Charter, Town Administration is responsible for annually preparing Town budgets, capital plans, and financial forecasts. Town Administration is also for personnel management and procurement across the organization.
Town Administration, working with Department Heads, manages town facilities and improvement projects throughout Town. The Town Administration office is actively involved in communicating critical information to the public and key stakeholders.
Town Administration collaborates with the Select Board, Town Departments and staff, committees, residents, and our business community to fulfill the mission of the Town, including to provide excellent public services and responsive government. From infrastructure projects to community events, public meetings, and the everyday questions that come through the doors of Town Hall, we take pride in helping residents and solving problems.
| |
Meet Our Team
Erika Mawn
Constituent Services & Communications Coordinator
Years with Brewster: 8
Q: What is one of your favorite things about your position?
That every day is different. There is always new information coming in, different people to work with, and opportunities to help someone.
Being based in the Town Manager's office, I get insight to what's happening in different departments and throughout the Town.
Q: What is one of your favorite things about Cape Cod?
It's home. I grew up in Sandwich and have called Brewster home since 2005, so Cape Cod is where most of my memories are - and where most of my family still live. From the Boardwalk in Sandwich to Falmouth, the Brewster flats, and Nantucket there are so many places that hold special meaning for me.
| | |
Meet Our Team
Griffin Ryder
Town Engineer/Project Manager
Years with Brewster: 5
Q: What is one of your favorite things about your position?
Working collaboratively with Town Staff, Boards, Committees, Residents and project partners to develop meaningful and impactful Town projects in my hometown. I enjoy taking the time to explain projects throughout the design evolution and construction processes. I also take great pride in the projects that we’ve completed in the past 5 years or so, including the Brewster Dog Park, First Light Beach and Brewster Community Pool Parking Lots, Long Pond Landing Improvements, Millstone Road Improvements, and there are many more to come.
Q: What is one of your favorite things about Cape Cod?
Exploring the outer beach following storm events. Each year the barrier beach changes differently than the last. It’s like Christmas morning anticipating what it is going to look like following each storm. Where’s the best sandbar going to be now?
| | |
Project Update
Golf Maintenance Building Funding Goes to Town Meeting
The Town of Brewster is preparing to replace its aging golf course maintenance facilities, which have been in continuous use since 1985. Originally built for a single 18‑hole course and a staff of eight, the current buildings now support two courses and more than twenty‑five employees during peak season.
Over four decades of heavy use have taken a toll: the structures show widespread rust, leaking roofs require multiple buckets during storms, degraded doors, insufficient ventilation, and outdated HVAC systems that allow exhaust and chemical odors to drift into workspaces. Space limitations force expensive equipment to be stored outdoors year‑round, accelerating wear and complicating daily operations, while tight indoor layouts cause safety concerns.
To address these issues, Brewster is moving forward with a complete redesign of its maintenance facilities. The project includes constructing two new buildings: a fully conditioned administration, staff and maintenance garage building, and a modernized storage garage with workshops. Both new buildings will be outfitted with taller ceilings, wider doors, improved circulation, and properly designed storage for chemicals, fuels, and equipment. Updated HVAC and ventilation will meet today’s air‑exchange standards, while enhanced stormwater management and safer fuel containment reflect current environmental requirements.
The new layout is designed around actual workflow—prioritizing accessible equipment bays, meeting space for staff, and safer movement throughout the facility—ultimately creating an efficient, long‑lasting environment that supports the high level of care Brewster’s courses are known for.
The estimated cost of this project is $11M and it will be borne fully by the Golf Enterprise Fund (commonly referred to as the Golf Department or Captains Golf Course). This project will be presented to residents at the Fall Special Town Meeting as a general debt authorization, but it will have no impact on resident taxes.
What is a debt authorization?
A vote by a municipality to authorize debt for a particular capital project for a specified period of time.
What is an enterprise fund?
An enterprise fund is funded by departmental receipts. Both the Water Department and Golf Department are enterprise funds, which means department expenses are paid for by user fees (i.e. your water bill, golf membership and tee-times respectively).
If the Golf Department Enterprise Fund is going to pay for the debt exclusion, why does it need Town Meeting approval?
The Golf Department cannot authorize or issue debt on their own. They are a Town department and thus, borrowing must be approved through a Town Meeting vote. All debt authorizations require Town Meeting approval regardless of how they will be paid.
Will this debt authorization raise your taxes?
No, the debt authorization will not be paid for by local property taxes. It will be paid for by the Golf Enterprise Fund. The Town has developed a 10-Year Capital Improvement Plan and 5-Year Financial Forecast specifically for the Captains that are updated annually and anticipate the costs of debt associated with major capital investments.
| | | |
Sea Camps Spotlight
Community Center Needs Assessment Update
After a thorough solicitation and review process, the Town, working with the Sea Camps Advisory Committee, has hired Bargmann Hendrie and Archetype, Inc., (bh+a) to undertake a Community Center Needs Assessment, which will include community outreach and input. As outlined in the approved Bay Property Comprehensive Plan, an area was designated for a potential new community center to be considered through a needs assessment process. We expect the study will take approximately one year and it will include Council on Aging, Recreation, and other key stakeholder engagement. Stay tuned for further information and community conversation dates.
*Reminder that starting on October 12, the Bay Property will be closed for the 2026-2027 off-season to safely accommodate multiple planned large capital projects.
|
In Focus
Strategic Planning
The Select Board voted approval of the FY27-28 Strategic Plan in September, concluding a months-long process to articulate collective goals and prioritize initiatives and policies over the next two years. There are myriad ways to approach strategic planning, Our in-house process solicits input from residents, municipal officials, and department heads, and measures progress against the previous year’s goals in order to set new benchmarks. Each year, the strategic retreat proves to be a valuable opportunity for the Select Board to convene and come to consensus on the many decisions before us. Thank you to everyone who took the time to provide comment, and to our incredible staff and board/committee members who implement the plan throughout the year!
This year, the Board changed things up by spreading preparation for the strategic retreat over a number of meetings. This new approach helped make the process more visible to our residents and gave the Board more time on the day of the retreat to dedicate to discussion. Instead of exclusively using the Local Comprehensive Plan (LCP) Building Blocks, this year’s Strategic Plan is organized around seven goal areas and includes 27 strategies that work towards those goals. The majority of strategies carry over from last year and also appear in the Town's Local Comprehensive Plan. This year, the Board added Financial Stewardship and Educational Excellence as goals and reworked Effective and Efficient Town Operations; Healthy, Vibrant Community; and Environmental Leadership to better reflect the Board’s priorities.
As always, it is an ambitious plan! These changes are aimed at aligning the Select Board’s priorities with the operational realities of running the Town day-to-day. It will be an organization-wide and community-wide effort to start, make progress on, and complete the included initiatives and policies. Let’s get to it!
| |
Getting to Know Your Select Board
Meet Pete Dahl
Elected May 2025
Q: What is the one thing you wish the public knew about the Select Board?
The Select Board is a very public process. Open Meeting Laws prevent the Select Board from discussing issues outside of the public meeting. It is common practice for Board members to quickly halt discussions during casual conversations. It may appear as if decisions were made ahead of time, but many agenda items are routine and are voted on with minimal or no discussion.
The agenda is usually extensive and there is a need to keep moving. The Select Board packet is anywhere from 250 pages to 650 pages long. It can take considerable time during a weekend to review the material in preparation for a single meeting. Some previously-seen material may be presented as background but is relevant to a current topic. Regardless, it all needs to be reviewed.
The actual discussion occurs in real-time. As a result, I am frequently surprised by the positions of other members.
Q: What is one of your favorite things about Brewster?
It is easy to talk about the ponds and beaches. They are quite spectacular.
But what I find really appealing about Brewster is its small-town feel and the strong sense of community we share. We go to Town Meeting in our elementary school. We vote in a church. Our 174-year-old public library is a partnership between the Town of Brewster and the Brewster Ladies Library Association. We can disagree on certain issues, but we all want the best solutions for our community.
I recently took my visiting (vacationing) grandchildren to watch us vote early. They were fascinated and loved being able to walk through Town Hall, sit in the Select Board meeting room chairs, and meet our employees. They could touch democracy at work.
It always gives me pleasure to tell people I live in Brewster.
| |
General Election Information
State Election | Tuesday November 3 | 7am-8pm | 1848 Main Street
Are you ready for the November Election? Check, change, or register to vote online.
There are nine ballot questions - read about the ballot questions online or pick up a red booklet from Town Hall if you did not receive one in the mail. *Note - there is a 10th ballot question for Barnstable County that is not in the red booklet.
Pro-tip: at the back of the red ballot questions book, there is a voter checklist! You are allowed (and encouraged) to bring this with you to voting booth.
| | | Last Day to Register to Vote | Saturday, October 24 | | Last Day to Request Mail-in Ballot | Tuesday, October 27 | | Early In-Person Voting Begins | Saturday, October 17 | | |
Early In-Person Voting Hours
Location: Town Hall, Rm C, 2198 Main St., Brewster, MA 02631
| | Week 1 Schedule: Early In-Person | | | Saturday, October 17 | 10am - 4pm | | Monday, October 19 | 9am - 1pm | | Tuesday, October 20 | 8:30am - 12:30pm | | Wednesday, October 21 | 12pm - 4pm | | Thursday, October 22 | 10am - 2pm | | Friday, October 23 | 8:30am - 12pm | | | Week 2 Schedule: Early In-Person | | | Saturday, October 24 | 10am - 4pm | | Monday, Oct. 26 - Friday, Oct. 29 | 8:30am - 4pm | | |
Fall Special Town Meeting
Monday November 16
Stony Brook Elementary School
New start time!
5pm start, 4pm check-in
Services offered for this Special Town Meeting include:
- Transportation to/from Town Meeting provided by the Council on Aging
- Free childcare for children aged 5 - 12 provided by Nauset Youth Alliance
On Monday November 2 at 6pm, Town Administration will hold a community information forum to introduce and discuss the warrant articles. The forum will be held in Town Hall and be available via Zoom.
| | | | |
PUBLIC HEARING
BREWSTER COMMUNITY PRESERVATION COMMITTEE (CPC)
Wednesday October 14, 2026 AT 4pm
The purpose of the annual hearing is to provide and gather information on the community preservation needs and possibilities in the areas of community housing, historic preservation, open space, and recreation. The CPC resources of the Town of Brewster will be reviewed, and the information gathered at the hearing will be useful in assessing any potential funding applications that the CPC might recommend to voters at the May 2027 Annual Town Meeting.
| |
Drive-Thru Flu & COVID Vaccine Clinic
Thursday, October 15, 2026
1pm - 4pm
Our Lady of the Cape Church 468 Stony Brook Road
Pre-Registration is Required.
Residents can schedule an appointment by one of the following ways (please have your insurance card available):
- Calling Cape Cod Healthcare Central Scheduling at (508) 957-8600
- Searching for a flu/COVID vaccine appointment in Cape Cod Healthcare MyChart
- Visiting Cape Cod Healthcare
| |
Fall 2026 Oyster Sundays!
Our Natural Resources Department will kick off its annual "Oyster Sunday" recreational harvest event at Mants Landing. Each Sunday at low tide, the cages will open for 2026 recreational shellfish permit holders to harvest 5 quarts of oysters per week.
Important Reminders:
- All participants must have a valid 2026 Shellfish permit. Permits can be purchased online or in person at Town Hall. All Senior Shellfish permits (residents and veterans aged 70+) can be purchased at the Council on Aging.
- License holders must be present and “actively engaged” in harvesting.
- Please wait in the parking lot until DNR staff can prepare cages and check shellfish permits before going on the flats.
- Be prepared with gloves, boots, waders, and appropriate clothing for the weather.
- Review the harvest times below and plan accordingly. There will be plenty of oysters, so there is no need to arrive early.
| |
Brewster Housing on the Move:
Habitat for Humanity Mackie Drive
Donna Kalinick, Assistant Town Manager and Housing Coordinator, Jill Scalise were on site at the Habitat for Humanity Mackie Drive wall raising in August.
| | | | |
