Council Members

Agendas & Minutes

For more information contact the Selectman's Office
508-896-3701 x1100
Brewster Town Offices
2198 Main St
Brewster, MA 02631

Note: This committee has been dissolved.

Brewster’s Integrated Water Resources Management Plan is now entering Phase 3.  Please click here to go to a separate website with project information.

The CWPC meets each month on the second and fourth Monday at Town Hall. See the town calendar for specific meeting postings. The CWPC is overseeing the Town’s water planning process. The water planning process will include the following primary tasks:

• Develop a clear, concise set of goals and objectives for water quality management
• Develop a draft Integrated Water Resources Management Plan as per DEP’s 2004 water policy guidance and 2005 guidance documents.
• Conduct public hearings on the draft plan.
• Revise the plan based upon public input.Submit a completed Integrated Water Resources Management Plan to the Board of Selectmen including an action plan, timetable, relevant cost estimates and approaches to funding.
• Develop outreach and public education programs

Working with consultant(s), the CWPC is charged with clearly defining which water management issues are unique to Brewster and which must be addressed in a regional or specific watershed context. The consultant(s) will also help the Town to identify the optimum methods of achieving water resource protection and water management.

Approach

The CWPC shall meet with the Town Planner, as well as relevant town boards, committees, and officials to keep informed on the water planning process and contribute to that process through informational meetings with consultants, review of documents, and participation in public education opportunities. Communication between the CWPC and consultants will take place through the Planning Department and will be maintained throughout the process.

Public Participation

The CWPC will be responsible for conducting periodic public meetings to discuss progress with the water planning process and to provide a venue for the public to gain information and keep informed on the planning process. Written minutes shall be produced by the Committee, or by the consultant, should they be in attendance. All meetings shall be advertised and conducted in accordance with the Open Meeting Law. The CWPC shall provide periodic progress reports to the Board of Selectmen.

Video on Demand is available of the public meetings.

Flyers and Presentations

Agendas & Minutes

Ryan Bennett, Town Planner
508-896-3701 x1133
Brewster Town Offices
2198 Main St
Brewster, MA 02631
Email: planning@brewster-ma.gov

The mission of the Brewster Recycling Commission is to develop programs that promote recycling and waste reduction. The Commission functions as authorized by Massachusetts General Law 40, Section 8H.

The Recycling Commission consists of seven members appointed by the Board of Selectmen to serve three-year terms. The members are joined in this work by liaisons from the Board of Selectmen, Board of Health, Finance Committee and local non-profit groups. 

The Recycling Commission’s goals are to:

• Assist in stabilizing the Town’s solid waste expenses.
• Protect the environment by reducing solid waste.
• Increase the Town’s recycling volume.
• Save resources by reusing materials.
• Educate the community about recycling, re-use, and reducing consumption.
• Use scientific and economic data to make policy recommendations.
• Increase public awareness about solid waste and recycling.
• Encourage home composting

Recycling Commission Members

About Recycling

Recycling is the process of collecting certain unwanted materials that would otherwise be thrown away as trash and turning them into new products.

• Reduces the amount of waste
• Conserves natural resources such as timber, water, and minerals
• Prevents pollution caused by reducing the need to collect new raw materials
• Saves energy
• Reduces greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to global climate change
• Helps sustain the environment for future generations
• Helps create new well-paying U.S. jobs in the recycling and manufacturing industries
  (EPA, 2013)

Pay As You Throw

Brewster began a new solid-waste management program on October 1, 2013 called Pay-As-You-Throw (PAYT).

All Brewster Recycling Center users will dispose of trash in special Brewster PAYT bags. Refuse must be placed in those bags prior to disposal. PAYT bags are available for purchase at local stores and retailers. A list of local retailers can be downloaded by clicking here. Recyclables don’t need to be bagged.

PAYT bags for refuse are available in 3 sizes:

• $2 each for a 33 gallon bag which hold about 25 pounds; like a yard waste bag
• $1 each for a 15 gallon bag which holds about 12 pounds; like a kitchen-sized bag
• 50 cents each for an 8 gallon bag, similar to an office or bathroom trash bag, generally used by very small households.

There is no bag required for dropping off recyclable items, however an annual vehicle permit is required to enter and use the Brewster Recycling Center.

With PAYT, recycling paper, cardboard, plastic, glass and metal containers continue to be handled as they have been.

Why is PAYT Good for Brewster?

PAYT is a system where residents pay by the bag for disposing of refuse (solid waste that can’t be recycled or reused in any way). It’s similar to paying for electricity or water. You pay only for what you use and no more.

• PAYT provides an incentive to reduce, reuse and recycle more and that reduces the amount of refuse generated by the Town.
• You can control how many PAYT bags you buy based on how much refuse you produce and how much you recycle. The more you recycle, the fewer PAYT bags you must buy.
• Brewster pays per ton to dispose of solid waste; PAYT helps reduce the amount of solid waste produced and helps stabilize the Town’s disposal costs.
• Residents who recycle help the environment and the Town by reducing solid waste and its disposal costs. 

Tips to Improve Home Recycling

1. Set up a recycling area in your home that’s easy and convenient to use.
2. Use the Brewster Recycling Guide so you know what can be recycled.
3. Start composting your food waste (fruit, vegetables, yard waste and grass) to keep it out of the PAYT bag.
4. Donate items that you don’t need to a swap shop or non-profit group.
5. Send used clothes, shoes and textiles to a consignment store.
6. Use reusable grocery bags and avoid plastic bags.
7. Purchase items that have less packaging to throw away.
8. Cut down on purchasing new items and use currently owned ones as long as possible.
9. Stop unwanted mail and catalogs.

Home Composting

Composting is a convenient, beneficial and inexpensive way to handle your organic waste and help the environment. Yard wastes such as leaves, grass clippings and weeds make excellent compost. Fruit and vegetable scraps, plus food wastes such as coffee grounds, tea bags, and eggs shells, can be composted.

Composting will remove food waste from your PAYT bags and reduce your PAYT bag costs.

Home Composting Tips

www.mass.gov/eea/agencies/massdep/recycle/reduce/composting-yard-and-food-waste.html

Local Reuse Opportunities

Solid waste is minimized when individual households reduce, reuse and recycle. Reusing items gives them a longer life and keeps them out of the natnion’s bloated trash stream.

A number of Cape Cod organizations will help residents donate items or find re-usable ones. Certain charities and non-profit groups will pick up items at your home and some donations are tax deductible. Consider donating to or shopping at thrift stores, consignment stores, or some of these organizations:

Habitat ReStore: A place to buy or donate used furniture, appliances, doors and windows, and building supplies. All merchandise is sold at significant discounts and sales support Habitat for Humanity of Cape Cod.
Address: 28 Whites Path, Yarmouth, MA
Phone: Call ahead to drop off donations or to arrange for us to pick up, 508-394-6400

Goodwill: Goodwill makes high quality clothing and household goods available at reasonable prices through Goodwill Stores and provides job training and related services to help individuals with disabilities.
Address: 141 Corporation Plaza, Hyannis MA (behind Cape Cod Mall)
Phone: (508) 790-0046

Salvation Army: The Salvation Army Thrift shop has clothing and shoes for men, women and children, furnishings for the home, books, movies and CDs, toys and much more
Address: 105 Bassett Lane, Hyannis, MA
Phone: 508-771-8982
Website: www.salvationarmy.org

Craigslist: A classified advertising website that lets users post ads at no charge; a section of the website, which can be searched by local area (Cape Cod/Islands), offers items for sale.
Website: www.craigslist.org

Links:

1. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle; Mass. Dept. of Environmental Protection
2. Recycling Works Massachusetts (assistance for businesses and institutions)
3. Recycling for Kids and Teachers; Mass. Dept. of Environmental Protection 
4. Electronics Recycling, Mass. Dept. of Environmental Protection 
5. National Resources Defense Council – Recycling
6. Earth911 Home & Garden (ideas about recycling and producing less waste) 
7. Earth911 Recycling Search (find out where to recycle certain items near your home)
8. 10 Ways to Go Green; Columbia University 
9. Does Recycling Really Make a Difference? TLC 

Agendas & Minutes

For more information contact the Town Administrator's Office

508-896-3701 x1100
Brewster Town Offices
2198 Main St
Brewster, MA 02631

Commission Members

The Brewster Recreation Department is committed to enhancing the quality of life for all Brewster Residents, by striving to provide the best leisure opportunities in our community through exceptional programs and services. The purpose of the Recreation Department is to meet the diverse recreational, cultural, athletic and leisure-time pursuits of the residents of Brewster with a broad based comprehensive program. Recreational programs are organized to encourage participation and enjoyment and will be held at safe and well-equipped facilities on a year-round basis.

The Recreation Department maintains a separate recreation website for program information and online registrations.

Agendas & Minutes    Public Meeting Packets

The Brewster Planning Board is an elected, 7-member board responsible for local land use planning, including administering the local Zoning Bylaw (Chapter 179), the Subdivision Control Law, and preparation of zoning amendments for Town Meeting. The Board meets at 6:30pm on the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of each month.

The Brewster Zoning Board of Appeals consists of nine (9) members appointed by the Selectmen, and include five (5) regular members, and four (4) alternates. The Board regularly reviews Special Permits, Comprehensive Permits, Variances, and Appeals, and meets the 2nd Tuesday of each month.

If you would like to make an appointment to meet with the Town Planner, please email brewplan@brewster-ma.gov.

Planning staff support the efforts of the respective Boards with their regulatory responsibilities and facilitates planning efforts, including comprehensive planning, water quality planning, zoning, and general bylaw amendments, staff review, and pre-development review, and public service.

Planning Board Documents

Recreational Marijuana Regulations

Brewster Hazard Mitigation Plan

2022 Planning Board Schedule

Zoning Map (PDF)

Town GIS

Zoning Board of Appeals Documents

2022 ZBA Schedule

Zoning Map (PDF)

Jon Idman, Town Planner
Lynn St. Cyr, Senior Department Assistant
Ellen Murphy, Department Assistant

508-896-3701 x1133
Brewster Town Offices
2198 Main St
Brewster, MA 02631
Email: brewplan@brewster-ma.gov

Committee Members

The Open Space Committee is a committee for the purpose of cataloging all areas of open space (land) within the town of Brewster NOT presently owned by the town. This committee will also catalog those parcels of land which are currently developed, but with a change in ownership, could see more intense use.

The purpose of this cataloging will be to enable the committee to recommend a priority list for future open space purchases for the Town of Brewster. These purchases will be either funded through grant monies or through the anticipated receipts of the "community preservation act" funds.

The committee includes persons from various boards and commissions as well as private citizens and works in conjunction with the Building Department and Space Needs Committee to maximize efficiency and avoid duplication of efforts.

For more information, contact Brewster Open Space Committee
2198 Main St
Brewster, MA 02631

The Historic District Committee is responsible for the external review of new buildings or structures undergoing alterations within the Brewster Historic District. It is the committee’s charge to ensure any changes are appropriate to maintaining the aesthetic tradition of Brewster as a member of the Old King’s Highway Regional Historic District.  

Committee Members

Procedures During The Coronavirus Pandemic

Town staff is available by phone at #508-896-3701 ext. 1125 or via email. Jessica Gelatt can be reached at jegelatt@brewster-ma.gov

Application materials and associated forms are available online as fillable PDFs (see https://portal.laserfiche.com/Portal/Browse.aspx?id=75777&repo=r-153f9d98). These materials can be filled out online by clicking on a line in the document and typing in information. Once completed you can save the filled out document and submit it as an attachment to Sara Provos via email.

Applications can be received by email and be reviewed to the extent possible for completeness. In the event that file attachments exceed email size limitations, please mail hard copies. Hard copy information submitted in conjunction with an application submitted by email, will be reviewed when possible. Please mail all information to Town of Brewster- OKH, 2198 Main Street, Brewster, MA 02631.

Hard copies may also be dropped off at the drop box located at Town Hall. Please be advised that hard copies could have a 48-56 hour delay in the time that the application is dropped off or received by mail and when it is considered officially received.

Applicants will be notified electronically when applications are deemed “complete”.

We are working on establishing protocols for remote meetings and public hearings. Please contact Sara Provos regarding scheduled public hearings. 

Old King's Highway Bulletin including rules and guidelines.

Current map of the Brewster portion of the Old King's Highway historical district.

Historical  Maps of the Old King's Highway

Applications, Forms, & Other Documents

Agendas & Minutes

Public Meeting Packets

For more information

Historic District Committee
508-896-3701 x1125
Brewster Town Offices
2198 Main St
Brewster, MA 02631
building@brewster-ma.gov

Committee Members

Agendas & Minutes

For more information contact the Town Administrator's Office
508-896-3701 x1100
Brewster Town Offices
2198 Main St
Brewster, MA 02631

Committee Members

The Human Services Committee supports many organizations providing services to Brewster residents. For information about these agencies and how you can contribute, click here to open the Brewster Cares website.

Agendas & Minutes

For more information contact the Town Administrator's Office
508-896-3701 x1100
Brewster Town Offices
2198 Main St
Brewster, MA 02631

Committee Members

For more information, contact the Town Administrator's Office
508-896-3701
Brewster Town Offices
2198 Main St
Brewster, MA 02631

Committee Members

Comcast Channel 18 is Brewster's Town Channel with a 24 hour bulletin board and meetings of the Board of Selectmen, Finance Committee, Planning Board, Board of Health and other meetings and events are broadcast live and are archived for online viewing.

Agendas & Minutes

For more information contact the Town Administrator's Office

508-896-3701 x1100
Brewster Town Offices
2198 Main St
Brewster, MA 02631

Agendas & Minutes

For more information contact the Town Administrator's Office
508-896-3701 x1100
Brewster Town Offices
2198 Main St
Brewster, MA 02631

Committee Members

The Committee is charged to make recommendations to promote safe and enjoyable bicycling in the town of Brewster and to encourage the use of bicycles for recreation, commuting and as an alternative means of transportation within the town and to neighboring towns on the lower cape.

The Committee will report to the Board of Selectmen on all bicycling related matters and shall make recommendations for future action.

Agendas & Minutes

For more information contact the Town Administrator's Office
508-896-3701 x1100
Brewster Town Offices
2198 Main St
Brewster, MA 02631

The mission of the Brewster All Citizens Access Committee is to advise and guide the Town of Brewster and the general public regarding issues of accessibility in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Brewster has beach wheelchairs available for the use of the public, free of charge. Click here for more information.

Information links.

ADA Guide for Small Towns

ADA Guide for Small Business

Massachusetts Office on Disability  617-727-7440 (voice and TTY)

CORD (Cape Organization for the Rights of the Disabled) cordinfo@cilcapecod.org,
508-775-8300/1-800-541-0280 (Both numbers Voice and TTY)

Elder Services of Cape Cod and Islands www.escci.org, 1-800-244-4630,
TTD/TTY 508-394-8691

Sight Loss Services, Inc. sightloss@verizon.net, 1-800-427-6842

Agendas & Minutes

For more information contact the Council on Aging
508-896-2737
1673 Main St
Brewster, MA 02631

Committee Members

Please note that taking of Herring for the season is forbidden.

For more information contact the Town Administrator's Office
508-896-3701 x1100
Brewster Town Offices
2198 Main St
Brewster, MA 02631

The Brewster Community Preservation Committee is comprised of 9 members: four Citizen Representatives, appointed by the Board of Selectmen and members designated by the following committees: Conservation Commission, Planning Board, Brewster Historical Commission, Housing Authority and Recreation Commission. The Committee was established with initial staggered terms and three terms thereafter. The CPC typically meets the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays of each month. For meeting schedules and agendas, please check the Brewster Calendar.

Committee Members

What is the Community Preservation Act?

The Community Preservation Act (CPA) is a state law designed to help communities plan ahead for sustainable growth. The CPA allows towns to levy a community-wide property tax surcharge of up to 3% for the purpose of creating a local Community Preservation fund that can qualify for state matching funds. The fund must be used to acquire and protect Open Space and recreation lands, preserve Historic Buildings, Documents and Landscapes, and create and maintain Community Housing.

How does the CPA work in Brewster?

The CPA was adopted by Town Meeting, November of 2004 and received ballot approval in May of 2005. This approval resulted in a 3% surcharge on real estate tax, thereby replacing the Land Bank surcharge.

The Brewster By-law requires that 50% must be spent or reserved for Open Space, 10% must be spent or reserved for Community Housing and 10% must be spent or reserved for Historic Preservation. The balance, 30%, may be spent for Community Housing or Historic Preservation areas plus Recreation purposes. This money is cumulative and can be spent in subsequent years.

This gives Brewster the opportunity to determine its priorities, plan for its future, and generate funds to implement those plans.

The state bylaw or ordinance establishing the CPC also serves to enumerate the responsibilities of the CPC. These three responsibilities are outlined in Sections 5(b) and 5(c) of the CPA statute.

Develop a Community Preservation Plan

The first responsibility is to study the needs, possibilities and resources of the community with regards to community preservation. In performing this research function, the CPC must meet and consult with town departments and other committees to get their input, and must hold at least one public hearing annually to get input from the general public. The public hearing must be posted publicly and advertised for two weeks preceding the public hearing in a local newspaper of general circulation. Following its research, the CPC is responsible for developing a local CPA plan to guide its decision-making on CPA project proposals. The CPC adopted 5 Year CPA Plan in March 2022.

Review and Recommend CPA Projects

The second responsibility of the CPC is to accept project proposals from the community, and conduct a thorough review of them, with the aim of selecting the most compelling projects for recommendation to Town Meeting. Project proposals can be submitted to the CPC twice a year.  Once the CPC has voted on a slate of projects to recommend, along with the specific dollar amounts and CPA funding sources it recommends to complete them, it forwards these to the town meeting for action. As part of preparation for town meeting, a representative of the CPC makes a presentation to the Select Board and the Finance Committee to describe project recommendations in the CPC warrant article and the reasoning behind its choice of that particular group of projects.

Keep Records and Report on the CPA Budget

The third responsibility of the CPC is a record keeping and budgetary responsibility. It is required to keep records of all CPC meetings, proposals, and recommendations, and to submit a CPA budget annually to the legislative body.

CPC Administrative Funds

In order to fund the work of the CPC, the CPA statute specifies that the committee may use up to 5% of the community's annual CPA revenues each year. Town Meeting must approve these monies annually. The CPC’s administrative funds can be used for the same kinds of expenses budgeted for any town department or committee to carry out its mission each year, such as employee salaries, office expenses and contractual services.

Brewster CPC History

In Brewster, the CPA replaced the Cape Cod Land Bank, which had previously funded Open Space acquisitions. The Act also created a State fund which will provide the Town with matching funds. The state match varies from year to year.

Property taxes traditionally fund the Town's day-to-day operating needs of safety, health, schools, roads, maintenance. - and more. The 3% CPA property tax surcharge generates additional needed revenue to meet Open Space, Community Housing, Historic Preservation, and Recreation goals.

What is the Application Process?

The CPC Funding Application is an electronic form and is available online via this link: Instructions for Applicants (brewster-ma.gov) .  Applications should be submitted electronically according to the instructions in the CPC Funding Application document.

Applications should be submitted by July 1st for the fall meeting or December 1st for the spring meeting, to allow sufficient CPC review time for potential presentation to the following Brewster Town Meeting. Applications deemed CPA eligible, complete, and timely, are then reviewed in public hearings and decisions are made as to which applications will be approved for recommendation at Town Meeting. Voters at Town Meeting will then vote yes or no on CPC recommendations. 

Note:  Late submissions have been accepted in the past with the caveat that, if the committee cannot complete the review process, those late submissions may be deferred to the following town meeting.  Applicants who plan to submit a late application with the intention of making the warrant for the next town meeting should consult with the committee chair in advance.

The following are the CPC funding requests that were approved at the May 2016 Town Meeting.

• Cape Cod Village
• Boehm Property
• Babe Ruth Field
• Cape Rep Theatre
• Harwich Ecumenical Council for the Homeless

The following is the CPC funding request that was approved at the November 2016 Town Meeting.

• Habitat For Humanity -- Tubman Road Housing Phase 1

The following are funding requests that were approved at the May 2017 Town Meeting.

• Brewster Woods Application
• Bikeways: CCRT Crossing Lights
• Part Time Housing Coordinator

The following is the funding request that was approved at the November 2017 Town Meeting

• Meeting House Road Property

The following are the funding requests that were approved at the May 2018 Town Meeting.

• Rec Department ADA Improvements
• Rec Department Tennis Court Improvements
• Housing Coordinator FY18
• CDP Cape Housing Institute CPC Application
• Brewster Housing Authority CPC Application
• Cobb House Application
• Millstone Road Community Housing Land Acquisition
• Long Pond Conservation Area Application

The follow are the funding requests that were approved at the Fall 2018 Town Meeting

• Habitat for Humanity: Paul Hush Way Phase 2
• Cape Rep Theatre
• Cape Cod Museum of Natural History Observation Platform
• Brewster Affordable Housing Trust

The following are the funding requests that were approved at the May 2019 Annual Town Meeting.

• Community Development Partnership- Cape Housing Institute
• Town of Brewster- Part Time Housing Coordinator
• Copelas Property Acquisition

The following are the funding requests that were approved at the Fall 2019 Town Meeting

• FORWARD Housing for Autistic Adults
• Brewster Affordable Housing Trust – Preserve Subsidized Housing Inventory
• Update Open Space and Recreation Plan

The following are the funding requests that were approved at the 2020 Annual Town Meeting:

• Town of Brewster – Housing Coordinator
• Community Development Partnership – Cape Housing Institute
• Pleasant Bay Community Boating – Accessible Dock
• Brewster Whitecaps/Brewster School Committee – Stony Brook Field Improvements
• Land acquisition – 106 McGuerty Road

The following are the funding requests that were approved at the 2021 Annual Town Meeting:

• Town of Brewster – Stony Brook Mill Retaining Wall
• Town of Brewster – Housing Coordinator FY22
• Cape and Islands Veterans Outreach Council– Veterans Home in Dennis
• Brewster Affordable Housing Trust – Rental Assistance Program
• Habitat for Humanity – Red Top Road Housing
• Town of Brewster – Creation of Brewster Dog Park

The following are the  funding requests that were approved at the 2021 Fall Town Meeting:

• Town of Brewster – Crosby Mansion Reconstruction and Restoration
• Town of Brewster–Update Housing Production Plan

The following are the funding requests that were approved at the 2022 Annual Town Meeting:

• Brewster Historical Society – Digitation of the Ellen St. Sure Collection
• Town of Brewster – Housing Coordinator
• Community Development Partnership – Cape Housing Institute
• Pennrose – Cape Cod Five Affordable Housing

The following is a list of CPA funded projects along with financial information:

• CPC FY2021 Budget
• CPC Projects
• CPC Open Space Bond Payments

The following is a list of CPA funded projects along with financial information:

• CPC FY2021 Budget
• CPC Projects
• CPC Open Space Bond Payments

For more information, contact Elizabeth Taylor, Clerk
508-896-3701 x1149
Brewster Town Offices
2198 Main St
Brewster, MA 02631

Committee Members

For more information contact the Planning Department
508-896-3701 x1233
Brewster Town Offices
2198 Main St
Brewster, MA 02631
lstcyr@brewster-ma.gov

Mission Statement

The Brewster Affordable Housing Trust (“BAHT”) seeks to expand and preserve year-round rental and ownership homes that are affordable to moderate, low, and very low income households. Our efforts will foster a welcoming environment for demographically and socio-economically diverse populations. The BAHT is committed to education, collaboration, and community engagement.

Committee Members

Brewster Bylaw Chapter 18: Affordable Housing Trust Fund

2022 Goals & Priority Initiatives

Minutes and Agendas

Meeting Packets

For more information contact the Housing Office.

Jill Scalise, Housing Coordinator
2198 Main St
Brewster, MA 02631
Phone: 508-896-3701, Ext. 1169
Email: jscalise@brewster-ma.gov

The Vision Planning Committee (VPC) will continue to foster public outreach and communication around the implementation of the 2018 Vision Plan and work with Town staff and the community to develop a Local Comprehensive Plan (LCP) based on the Vision Plan Goals.

Committee Members

Committee Charge

Summary Papers

• Community Character
• Water Resources
• Open Space
• Housing
• Coastal Management
• Local Economy
• Governance
• Community Infrastructure
• Solid Waste
• Climate Mitigation and Adaptation

 Maps for Potential Town Center Locations

For more information contact the Planning Department.

508-896-3701 x1233
Brewster Town Offices
2198 Main St
Brewster, MA 02631