Select Board Candidates Debate Housing, Water And Sea Camps

BREWSTER – Sea Camps, housing, water and tax cuts were the major topics of discussion for Harvey (Pete) Dahl, David Faherty and Caroline McCarley at the League of Women Voters’ select board candidates’ forum on April 15. 

The League of Women Voters, the Brewster Chamber of Commerce and the Brewster Ladies’ Library hosted the forum for the three candidates vying for two open seats on the board at the May 21 election.

The Sea Camps properties marked the biggest town acquisition in history, but since then funding hasn’t been approved by residents to continue implementing the comprehensive plan. Dahl and Faherty both agreed that in the short term, the properties should continue to be used as recreational open space. 

Dahl said he would push back on major plans for development on the pond property since it is protecting town water wells. In regards to the bay property, he said a community center should only be discussed once the town has looked at all other possibilities and the feasibility of consolidation for town buildings. His goal is to keep the bay property as a place for residents to recreate. 

Faherty had a similar viewpoint, but was primarily concerned with funding for the comprehensive plan. 

“I voted for the Sea Camps acquisition. Why?,” he said. “I think most of us in the town did not want it to go to developers, but I don’t think we voted for an $11.4 million bond exclusion that would’ve raised our taxes and was only the first request for additional funding.” 

Faherty concluded that the town didn’t buy the property to make a massive and expensive community center, but for the beaches, wildlife and pool. 

McCarley has been an integral part of the Sea Camps acquisition and planning teams, serving on the bay property committee and now chairing the Sea Camps advisory committee. She said her intention is not to tell residents what to do with the properties, but to listen to what they want there. During the two-year planning process, the community center was an element that many residents wanted to explore. The comprehensive plan is a 10-year implementation process and does include space for a community center, she said. 

“My whole intent as the chair of [the Sea Camps advisory] committee is to continue to listen, continue to figure out what we can and can’t do, continue to figure out how we can do things as cheaply as possible, continue to figure out how we can get other monies besides taxpayer dollars to finish work on those plans,” she said. Moving forward, it is still a conversation with residents to find out what they want from these properties, she added. 

Tax breaks and supplemental spending were also discussed. Faherty said he would have to look at the budget closely, but mentioned there is potential for savings in recreational programs and larger capital projects that don’t include the schools. He said he would not cut funding for families, conservation or the schools. 

McCarley said she attended the budget meetings where department heads presented to the select board and finance committee and didn’t believe there was an opportunity to cut programming. She said she has confidence in the system of committees and knows town staff work hard to craft that budget every year. 

Dahl has served on the finance committee for years and is currently the vice chair. When compared to other communities in the area, he said the Brewster property tax rate is one of the lowest. He went on to say that doesn’t mean it isn’t a burden for some residents, but town departments are very mindful of their spending. 

Dahl sat down with the Brewster police chief and asked what he needed from the budget, and the chief said the fire department needs it more. Dahl praised the move and said “this is how this town works.” If there is an opportunity to cut some spending, he is more than willing, as long as it doesn’t affect police, fire and schools. 

Housing has been a long-term town priority, with multiple studies in place currently to seek out solutions. McCarley mentioned the zoning study as a tool to find mixed-use properties or conversion of single family homes for affordable housing. She said these solutions haven’t been explored nearly enough. While she doesn’t have a plan to lower property rates, she said that affordable housing is a need and it is crucial that new sites fit into the character of the town. 

Faherty would like to look at all the current buildings and lots in town to see what could potentially be used for affordable housing units or mixed-use properties. He said he would not settle on the Sea Camps pond property being the only option. He went on to say that he believes it is the town’s responsibility to present feasible areas throughout the town where affordable housing could go, since the demand will never be fully met. 

Dahl said there are limitations to what can be done to make housing more affordable, but it is necessary to explore all options. He said while exploring, the town needs to protect Brewster’s water sources. 

“This is a key issue in how we go about looking at more dense housing,” he said. “It’s not about putting it where our water is. When we put all the components together — housing, the cost, the location and wastewater disposal — they are all in the mix.” 

All the candidates agreed that water was one of the most important elements of the town to protect. 

Dahl said with the new additions to the integrated water resource management plan (IWRMP), brought by the Brewster Ponds Coalition’s petition for a comprehensive wastewater management plan, he feels the town is going in the right direction. He said wastewater is a key issue to study because it affects every other issue in town. 

While he praised the efforts of the comprehensive water plan, he did make note that there might have been a missed opportunity to work with surrounding municipalities on their sewering projects, setting the town up for future success with denser housing. 

McCarley was in agreement with Dahl’s position. She said the water resources task force is committed to studying further opportunities for the town, but commended the current efforts for heading in the right direction. One of her primary campaign goals is conserving and protecting the town’s drinking water resources. 

Faherty mentioned a grant-funded wastewater study of the Zone II drinking water protection area that he says will determine the next steps of wastewater planning. The state grant funding of $133,000 the town received will actually be covering work in the Herring River watershed. It will free up some funds appropriated at last year’s town meeting and help to increase the scope of the IWRMP, which the Brewster Ponds Coalition solicited. The updates to the IWRMP will broadly cover evaluation of containment sources in Zone II, among other things. 

Although a Zone II study is not currently in place, Faherty is supportive of moving forward with the IWRMP. He said, “Let’s get our ducks in a row, let’s get our first plan, let's see the good work that the town has done in this regard.” 

The full forum is available to watch on Lower Cape TV’s Vimeo channel. The last day to register to vote for town meeting is April 25 and the last day to register to vote in the election is May 9. Mail-in ballots can be requested prior to May 13. The town election will be held on May 21.