Rec Com, Plan Board Among Nine Races On Brewster Election Ballot

BREWSTER – At the May 20 annual election, registered Brewster voters will have the opportunity to fill seats on eight boards, committees and commissions including the select board (see separate story), the planning board, the recreation commission, the board of health, the Brewster school committee, the Nauset regional school committee, the housing authority and the Old Kings Highway committee. 

The League of Women Voters has hosted two forums for candidates running for positions on the recreation commission and the planning board. 

The race for the recreation commission’s two open seats is between incumbents Marie Enochty and Allen Ryone and challengers Peter Jelinek and Joseph Sullivan III. 

On April 15, Jelinek and Sullivan joined residents at the Brewster Ladies’ Library to answer questions and discuss issues related to recreation. Enochty and Ryone were not present at the forum. 

Sullivan, an army veteran, has served as the chair of the bicycle and pedestrian committee for the last four years, joining in 2018. He regularly participates in recreational activities in his free time and has completed the Boston marathon five times. He said he enjoys pickleball, tennis and walking on the trails in town. 

Sullivan said he hopes to have a seat on the commission to help create more opportunities for recreation beyond what he has already accomplished on the bicycle and pedestrian committee. 

Jelinek previously served on a school board in Minnesota. He is currently the group activities chair for the Nauset Newcomers, a citizen scientist with the Brewster Ponds Coalition, is a member of the Lower Cape curling club board, a member of the Namequoit Sailing Association and is an active member of the Brewster pickleball program. He referenced the program as an ideal example of the programs the recreation commission should replicate. 

When asked why he wanted to be a member of the commission, Jelinek said that he hopes to have a voice in town when it comes to recreation because it is such an important part of his life and wants to improve on the great work that the previous members have already accomplished.  

Both candidates were asked about the challenges the commission currently faces. Sullivan referenced the open space and recreation plan, which was approved in 2022, noting that residents were mainly concerned with drinking water and maintaining the rural character of the town. Jelinek said he spoke with Recreation Director Mike Gradone who emphasized the lack of indoor recreation spaces around town. Jelinek said that while he doesn’t have a solution, it will be something to work towards if he is elected. 

Jelinek said the major projects that are currently ongoing are the ADA compliance updates to Freeman’s Field and a needs assessment study for the recreation department, which will determine the next steps for the commission. 

Sullivan said he would like to receive feedback on the current iteration of the open space and recreation plan to help improve what they are focusing on in the community. 

They both mentioned opportunities with the Sea Camps properties as locations for recreation programs, noting that the kids’ summer programs have already been relocated to the bay property. On the topic of the Sea Camps, the community center question was posed to the candidates. Jelinek said the idea of a community center is something the town will likely need to explore within the next three to five years. Sullivan suggested taking a regional approach and combining efforts with other towns that already have community centers. 

While Sullivan was unfamiliar with the financial aspects of the commission and who has control over the recreation department’s spending, Jelinek said his understanding is the department has a spending cap of around $300,000 from a revolving fund. He said the department is doing a lot with a small amount of funding and advocated against squeezing savings from these programs. 

Sullivan is also running for two one of seats on the planning board. Three planning board candidates met at the Brewster Ladies’ Library on May 6 to discuss current matters regarding town development. 

Brewster has a unique situation with two separate elections pertaining to the planning board this year. Candidates Antone Freitas, Elizabeth Taylor and Sullivan are vying for two open four-year terms. Carmel Gilberti and Sullivan are up for one open seat with a one-year term. Sullivan was not present at the forum. Freitas, Taylor and Gilberti are all current members of the board. 

The planning board is currently conducting a wholesale review of the zoning bylaws, hoping to amend them to make them more user friendly for residents and developers. While the select board has not issued a request for a new iteration of the bylaws, Gilberti said she believes they will in the not too distant future. Freitas called the current iteration contradictory and confusing. Taylor said she hopes to engage more residents during the process.

All three candidates agreed to a proactive approach when thinking about multi-family and mixed-use properties, which has been a topical issue of late. The planning board recently conducted a multi-family and mixed-use study which found the current bylaws unsuitable for development of those types of properties in town. 

The remaining races are all uncontested. 

Two seats are available on the board of health. Incumbents David Bennett and Penny Holeman are running for re-election. The race for the Brewster school committee has two seats open and two candidates: incumbent Katie Jacobus is running for re-election and Enochty is also running for a seat on the committee. 

Incumbents Richard Draper and Cathryn Lonsdale are both running for re-election to the Nauset regional school committee. Lisa Rowe is looking to be re-elected to the housing authority as well. 

The Brewster Old Kings Highway committee does not have any candidates, but the ballot offers a write-in option. 

Election day is May 20 with polls open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the Brewster Baptist Church.