Over 23 Town Projects Underway In Brewster

September 03, 2025

by Mackenzie Blue

On Aug. 25, Town Manager Peter Lombardi and Assistant Town Manager Donna Kalinick provided updates on active projects around town. FILE PHOTO

BREWSTER – Town Manager Peter Lombardi addressed the select board Aug. 25 with a comprehensive list of ongoing town projects. Currently, the town has over 23 projects in the works that will continue through the fall and, in most cases, beyond the end of the year.

The projects fall into six categories: public works, natural resources, golf, Sea Camps, water resource planning, schools and other initiatives.

One of the select board’s goals in its 2025-2026 strategic plan is to move the projects along and see tangible progress.

Public Works Projects

Since the beginning of the Millstone Road improvement project in fall 2024, construction has been ahead of schedule. A temporary moratorium was put in place during the summer months. Crews were still on site to coordinate required utility work as some poles are still in the middle of the newly constructed sidewalk.

Lombardi said he expects the final paving of both the roadway and the sidewalks to be finished by winter. He also said town staff will be looking at updating the pavement management plan, recognizing there are a number of roads around town that need attention.

The dog park will be getting a slight facelift after the town received a $37,000 grant from the Stanton Foundation. The money will go toward drainage improvements, installation of several service gates along the fencing for department of public works staff and new agility and play structures for the park.

In recent years, town meeting has approved a total of $725,000 for drainage improvements around town. The DPW, along with town officials, have identified about six areas that call for small drainage improvements to be completed over the next few years. At the top of the list is the area between Run Hill Road and West Gate Road, which transitions from pavement to dirt. Additionally, minor drainage improvements on Snow Road and Leland Road are planned to be completed this fall.

The feasibility study of the recycling center, completed last January, provided the town with a few different scenarios for updates to the station. The preferred scenario, estimated at approximately $4.1 million, will cover campus upgrades. Lombardi said he is working with Assistant Town Manager Donna Kalinick to finalize a funding plan, which will be a part of the next capital planning process.

Natural Resources Projects

This past March, the town was able to reopen the northside of the Stony Brook Mill fish passageway in anticipation of the spring herring run. The fish weir improvements on this side are about halfway complete and were temporarily restored for the 2025 season. Some of the area was blocked by fencing to protect vegetation. The remaining work on this side will be completed next fall.

The south side of the grist mill is still under construction and unavailable to the public. After finding a historic sluiceway, construction was halted and the Massachusetts Historical Commission was asked to fully document and preserve the artifact. The construction team was able to start work again in mid June. They have built the new retaining wall and are in the process of veneering it. Kalinick said improvements on the south side will continue through September and the area will likely be reopened this fall.

In 2013, a culvert was installed at the mouth of Paine’s Creek and Freeman’s Pond channel. After receiving grant funding for a coastal stabilization project, the area surrounding the culvert was said to be impacted by erosion. Town staff, along with engineer Horsley Witten Group, have filed a notice of intent with the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Partners. If the permitting process is completed this fall, officials will release a request for proposals to complete the work.

Golf Department Projects

Town meeting approved a number of different capital projects for Captains Golf Course, which runs on an enterprise fund. This fall, and likely into the winter and potentially the spring, the course’s pavilion and pro shop will receive a new roof and an exterior paint job. Funding for a full renovation of the clubhouse bathrooms was also approved.

If any funding remains after the three projects are completed, the golf department is looking to replace the deck on the pavilion.

The golf commission began the initial steps to replace the maintenance building on the grounds. Designer Weston and Sampson delivered a report and options for the project that went over the estimated budget of $1.5 million. Currently, the commission is working with the town’s finance team to update its 10-year capital plan and determine next steps for the project.

Sea Camps Projects

Kalinick said the town is currently out to bid for the first phase of building demolition on the Sea Camps bay property. Prior to the summer, a small chimney and shed that were of concern were removed. Based on a structural assessment and hazmat report, this building was deemed unsafe. Because the recreation department moved its summer programming to the property, it was important for the structure to be removed before phase one began. Demolition will take place in November and December, during which time the property will be closed to the public.

After the initial public listening sessions held by the Sea Camps advisory committee, the town contracted with Weston and Sampson, in partnership with EDR, to help reconfigure the comprehensive plan based on feedback from residents. The teams helped to rework the phases of the implementation of the Sea Camps Comprehensive Plan and developed a new financing plan that will be presented to the committee this week. Kalinick said the town, along with the committee, will be holding a public forum on Sept. 29 to talk about next steps, including an article at town meeting.

Water Resource Planning Projects

Last month the select board and the water resources task force were presented with a herring river watershed permit study. This study delivered a number of different options to counteract nitrogen loading. Fuss and O’Neill, the town’s water planning consultant, also discussed potential solutions for wastewater on the Sea Camps pond property. These reports will help assist in decisionmaking regarding the pond property, the herring river watershed and the feasibility of offsetting the nitrogen impacts of housing on the pond property.

In May, town meeting approved $50,000 to update the town’s integrated water resource management plan (IWRMP). Based on feedback from the Brewster Ponds Coalition, the scope of those updates was expanded to include multiple items including wastewater. Lombardi said a finalized IWRMP is expected to be completed by the end of the year.

The natural resources advisory commission is looking to develop the town’s first pond management plan. An online survey was sent to residents in June. After 669 responses were received, the commission will be looking into the feedback and developing next steps. Members will be referencing the IWRMP to stay consistent with the town’s approach to water management. A few pilot pond projects are expected to be conducted once the plan is in place.

Additionally, residents approved funding to update the water department’s master plan, which hasn’t been touched in over 20 years. The project will evaluate the town’s water infrastructure, sources, supply and demand, storage system hydraulics and capital needs.

Schools Projects

A code compliance study was conducted at Stony Brook Elementary to identify improvements needed to bring the building up to code. It also looked at recommended campus improvements and estimated costs. The study included the estimated cost to construct a new school building. With this information, town officials and school staff will be making decisions about the future of the building and necessary upgrades.

Stony Brook has been renting a generator for the winter months the past two years because the current one does not work. In the spring, the town went out to bid to replace the old generator. Construction has taken place over the summer and will be completed before the upcoming winter.

Bids were opened on Aug. 21 for completion of the new playground at Stony Brook. Officials are looking to award the contract soon and project the work to be done this fall. Funding for the project comes from the Nauset Youth Alliance, the community preservation committee and the Brewster Whitecaps.

Brewster administration has been a project lead for the Nauset Elementary Schools and Middle School Efficiency and Regionalization Study. HMFH Architects was selected as the consultant for the study. Lombardi will be co-chairing the steering committee with Nauset Superintendent Glenn Brand. The study is expected to take about a year.

Other Projects

Spencer Preservation was hired to conduct a study that would help inform next steps regarding upgrades to the Brewster Ladies’ Library facility. A draft of the final report was given to the library director, town officials and the Brewster Ladies’ Library Association president. Revisions are being made and the final report will be presented to the select board and the association in the near future. The report will help to inform timing and funding decisions for the future of the building, including capital improvement projects and other investments.

The recreation department received a final report from its needs assessment in June. The study, along with the COA’s recent needs assessment, will help to inform the community center needs assessment study that was approved at town meeting last November.

After two public forums, a joint meeting between the select board and the planning board saw draft findings developed from the mixed use and multi-family zoning study back in June. The study will also include a mapping component for residents to see potential zoning types. The final study will be delivered within the next few weeks.

The town’s finance team has been working over the last six months to convert accounting software. The whole process is expected to take about 18 months.

Last year, the Brewster Fire Station’s roof was discovered to be leaking above the living space for staff. An engineering consultant was hired to determine the cause of the leak. Bids are currently under review to repair the roof, which will likely be completed by the end of the year. Town meeting approved funding for the fix in 2024.

Due to general wear and tear, several chimneys at Crosby Mansion were leaking and in need of repair. The building is leased from the state, but the town is responsible for maintaining it and the property. The town will open bids at the end of September for the work, which is expected to be completed by the end of the year.

The public works department and recreation department are working together to make ADA accessible improvements at Freeman’s Field. Phase one of the project included some small improvements that were completed by the public works staff. Phase two will include major stormwater upgrades and design improvements. The town hopes to go out to bid in late fall and complete the work in early spring.

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