Four Community Volunteers Receive Inaugural Public Service Awards

BREWSTER – Robert Tobias, Anne O’Connell, Meg Morris and Carmen Scherzo were honored at the May 5 town meeting for their dedication to public service.

Select board members Mary Chaffee and Amanda Bebrin were tasked with choosing nominees who best fit four categories of leadership: financial, recreational, environmental and community.

 “Each year, dozens of community volunteers serve on Brewster’s more than 50 boards, committees, task forces and as representatives to external agencies in partnership with town staff,” said Chaffee. “The work of these elected and appointed volunteers fuels the outstanding work that makes Brewster government efficient and effective.”

Robert Tobias, a member of the finance committee since 2020, has been a resource for the Nauset Regional School committee, acting as liaison since his service began. He was instrumental in the 2026 budget workshop, which brought together all Nauset district leaders. He also created the budget primer that the committee relies on.

Anne O’Connell has served on the golf commission for 14 years, seven of them as chair. Under her leadership, the golf department instituted an enterprise fund in 2022 and has been able to prioritize capital projects the last few years. In addition to her recreational service, she has been a member of the health and human services committee since 2013. 

Meg Morris, chair of the waste reduction and recycling commission, had an essential role in the launch of the pay-as-you-throw program, a solid-waste management initiative that has saved the town money. She was pivotal in the legislation to ban disposable plastics and nip bottles. Morris has also co-hosted the Beautify Brewster event, co-founded the Cape Cod Anti-litter Coalition and coordinates the town’s fix-it clinics. She established the organics collection program in Brewster schools, teaching students the value of composting and recycling. She has served on the commission since 2012. 

Carmen Scherzo has been a committed supporter of the Brewster Dog Park and is co-founder of the Friends of the Brewster Dog Park. He was an essential voice in getting the dog park built and served as the board of health liaison to the dog park development committee. Today, he serves as the president of the Friends and is a regular patron of the park.  

The select board announced the establishment of the awards in early January as a response to one of their strategic goals: to strengthen town government volunteer engagement and recognition activities to better recruit and retain committee members.