Cyanobacteria Advisory For Schoolhouse Pond

On August 10, 2022 the Brewster Health Department, in collaboration with the Brewster Ponds Coalition and a recommendation by the MA Department of Public Health, posted a Cyanobacteria Health Advisory at Schoolhouse Pond Town Landing due to a visible algal bloom indicative of elevated levels of Cyanobacteria at the landing and surrounding areas.   Testing of the pond will continue on a weekly basis to monitor existing cyanobacteria levels. Out of an abundance of caution and until further notice, people and pets should avoid contact with the pond water in those areas where a visible algal bloom is present. For additional information, please visit https://www.mass.gov/guides/cyanobacterial-harmful-algal-blooms-cyanohabs-water or Cyanobacteria Monitoring on Cape Cod - Barnstable County (wpengine.com).

Cyanobacteria Advisory for Lower Mill Pond

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On August 5, 2022  the Brewster Health Department, in conjunction with a recommendation by the MA Department of Public Health, posted a Cyanobacteria Health Advisory at Lower Mill Pond Dam at the Gristmill location due to a visible algal bloom indicative of elevated levels of Cyanobacteria.  As a precautionary measure, a second posting was erected at the Lower Mill Pond Beach Association kayak launch area through the collaborative efforts of the Brewster Ponds Coalition and the Beach Association.  Testing of the pond will continue on a weekly basis to monitor existing cyanobacteria levels.  Until further notice, people and pets should avoid contact with any pond water where a visible algae bloom is present.  For additional information,  please visit  https://www.mass.gov/guides/cyanobacterial-harmful-algal-blooms-cyanohabs-water  or  Cyanobacteria Monitoring on Cape Cod - Barnstable County (wpengine.com).

Summer Nights On The Lawn

We are excited to announce that the Town will be hosting several events this summer on the Bay property at 3057 Main Street.

• On Friday August 5 at 8:30 PM, the Recreation Department and Brewster Ladies Library will host a Family Movie Night.
• On Thursday August 18 at 6:00 PM, the Brewster Band will perform a concert.
• On Friday August 26 at 5:00 PM, the Town will host a Touch-a-Truck event.

More details can be found here.

Public Forum on Human Dimensions of Rebounding Populations of Seals and White Sharks on Cape Cod

The Town of Brewster Natural Resources Advisory Commission will host an in-person public forum to present the results of a recent social science survey on the Human Dimensions of Rebounding Populations of Seals and White Sharks on Cape Cod.

Public forum date: Thursday, August 11, 2022
Time: 6:00 PM
Location: Cape Cod Museum of Natural History, 869 Main Street (Route 6A) Brewster, MA 02631

This collaborative project generated knowledge about the views and experiences of residents, tourists, and commercial fishers regarding seals and sharks on Cape Cod. Investigators used surveys to measure stakeholder beliefs, attitudes, and perceptions of seal/shark interactions, management, and conflict mitigation strategies.  Members of the project team will present the results and take questions from the public.

More information on the study is available here:  https://seagrant.whoi.edu/sealshark/

Public Forum on Wing Island Boardwalk Project

The Town of Brewster will host a virtual public forum to discuss the Wing Island Boardwalk project.

Public forum date: Monday, August 15, 2022
Time: 6:00 PM

Location: Log onto Zoom by clicking this link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81618004897?pwd=dzkxZ1lpVm1UV0xDRDJUa3BoVVpUQT09
Passcode: 542353
US: +1 929 436 2866  or +1 301 715 8592
Webinar ID: 816 1800 4897
Passcode: 542353

The Town proposes to construct an elevated walkway from Drummer Boy Park to Wing Island across the salt marsh. The current walking paths at Drummer Boy Park will be connected to a boardwalk (replacing the existing marsh planks) through an adjacent conservation property.  The boardwalk will also connect to the existing town easement adjacent to the Cape Cod Museum of Natural History.

Residents are invited to attend to learn about the conceptual project design and proposed timeline.

Edmund Sears Commemoration Ceremony

The Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum, in partnership with the Town of Brewster, MA, and Revolution 250, a consortium of organizations working together to commemorate the 250th anniversaries of the events that led to American Revolution, will place a commemorative marker at the gravesite of Boston Tea Party participant Edmund Sears in the Sears Cemetery in Brewster, MA for the first time on August 8, 2022. This will be the 100th commemorative Boston Tea Party plaque placed at gravesite of a known Boston Tea Party participant since this project began in 2019.

WHEN: MONDAY, AUGUST 8, 2022 – open to the public to attend
12:00 p.m. - 12:30 p.m.

WHERE: Sears Cemetery - Airline Road, Brewster, MA 02631 (at the Dennis/Brewster line)

TIMELINE: 12:00 p.m. - 12:30 p.m. Ceremony will take place at the grave of Boston Tea Party participant Edmund Sears. Ceremony in order of appearance:

• Welcome by Kari Hoffmann - Town of Brewster Selectperson
• Remarks by Evan O’Brien - Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum Creative Manager
• Comments by Jonathan Lane - Revolution 250 Coordinator, Mass. Historical Society
• Ceremonial placement of marker at Edmund Sears’ gravestone by Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum costumed actor who happens to be a direct descendent of Edmund Sears!

Open Positions: DPW Laborer & CDL Driver/Skilled Laborer

Laborer
The Town of Brewster seeks applications for the position of Laborer for the Department of Public Works. The position performs semi-skilled manual work in the operations and maintenance of construction, maintenance, and repair projects undertaken by the DPW. Duties include but are not limited to; performs landscaping duties, including mowing, weed whacking, and tree trimming for Town properties; catch basin cleaning, cold patching, and general maintenance of roadways; participates in snow & ice operations. Operates a variety of equipment, hand tools and machinery. High School diploma or equivalent and 1 year experience in grounds or roadway maintenance preferred, or any equivalent combination of education, training, and experience.  This is a 40 hour a week Grade 2 SEIU union position with a pay range of $23.02 - $27.42 per hour with an excellent benefits package including paid time off, health insurance, and retirement benefits.Position is subject to mandatory overtime. Please submit cover letter, resume, and town employment application to Human Resources at employment@brewster-ma.gov. Position open until filled with a priority deadline of 08/12/22. EEO/AA. Click her for full job description.

CDL Driver – Skilled Laborer
The Town of Brewster seeks applicants for the position of CDL Truck Driver/Skilled Laborer for the Department of Public Works. Position is responsible for operating trucks and equipment and performing skilled labor for the DPW.  Duties include but are not limited to; performing a wide variety of skilled and unskilled manual work to repair & maintain roadways, facilities and infrastructure; operators roll-off truck to transport solid waste and recyclables from the Town to appropriate facilities; trimming of trees, shrubs, and mowing, preparing and maintaining town facilities; operates a variety of light and heavy equipment and participates in snow & ice removal. High School diploma, CDL Class B or A license and minimum of 3 years equipment operation experience, or any equivalent combination of education, training, and experience. Mass Class 2B and 4G equipment operator licenses required in the first twelve months of employment. This is a 40 hour a week, Grade 3A SEIU union position, with a pay range of $25.09 - $30.86 pr/hr. Excellent benefits package, including paid time off, health insurance, and retirement benefits. Position is subject to mandatory overtime.  Please send cover letter, resume, and Town employment application to Human Resources, employment@brewster-ma.gov. Position open until filled with a priority deadline of 08/12/22. EEO/AA. Click her for full job description.

Open Position: Assistant Recreation Director

The Town of Brewster seeks applicants for Assistant Recreation Director. Position is responsible for performing a variety of recreational programming and administrative duties in the planning and supervising of programs and use of facilities for the Recreation Department. Duties include, but are not limited to; oversees after school programs and summer playground program; assist in maintaining and updating recreation website; maintains high public visibility as part of the Department’s public relations program and acts as liaison to various youth sports boards. Bachelor’s Degree in Recreation or related field and 3 years of related experience with 1 year in supervisory capacity, or any equivalent combination of education, training, and experience. CPR and First Aid certificates also required. This is a 35 hour a week, Grade 6 Personnel Bylaw position, with a starting pay range of $30.45- $32.30 per hour with an excellent benefits package including paid time off, health insurance, and retirement benefits. Work schedule of Tuesday – Saturday during the school year and Monday – Friday in the summer.  Submit cover letter, resume, and Town employment application to Human Resources, employment@brewster-ma.gov. Position open until filled with a priority Deadline 4pm on 08/12/22. Full job description click here.  EEO/AA.

Recent Email Notification from Brewster Water Department

Many Brewster residents recently received an email notification from Invoice Cloud about their accounts being “conveyed”. Conveyed means there has been a change and update on your account. Invoice Cloud has put your last name first and your first name last on your account. This change triggered an email alert to all customers.

Please disregard this email. Your account number is still the same and the only difference is the arrangement of your first and last name.

If you are someone who pays online, please click on the Pay Now feature, put in your last name, and then search. You may then:

• Click on the invoice you want to pay, scroll down, and click on register account.
• Fill in your email address and password and save.
• Moving forward your account information will be saved and correct.

We apologize for any confusion this has caused.

Please contact the Brewster Water Department at 508-896-5454 if you have any questions.

Notice of Public Comment Period: Draft 2022 Brewster Local Comprehensive Plan, July 21, 2022

The Town, through its Vision Planning Committee, is in the process of preparing a Local Comprehensive Plan, which when completed will serve to guide land use policy and decisions in the Town over the next 5-10 years.  The LCP is based closely on the Town’s Vision Plan, developed and approved by the Town in 2018 through extensive public input and engagement. The Committee has prepared, through nearly a year of public meetings, draft sections of the LCP including proposed goals, purposes and actions related to important local issues like water resources, housing and community character.

The Committee is now announcing the commencement of a public comment period on the LCP, including its draft Action Plan, to Friday, August 12, 2022.  Comments can be provided by email to brewplan@brewster-ma.gov (please include in the email subject line ‘LCP Comment).  Written comments may also be mailed or delivered to Town Hall c/o the Planning Office, 2198 Main Street, Brewster, MA 02631.

Draft LCP documents, including the Action Plan and LCP Overview, are available on the Town’s website at https://www.brewster-ma.gov. Hard copies of these documents are also available in the Planning Office in Town Hall, 2198 Main Street.  Other background information, such as the Town’s 2018 Vision Plan, is available on the Town’s website at https://www.brewster-ma.gov/committees-mainmenu-29/long-range-vision-plan-advisory-group and https://www.brewster-ma.gov/committees-mainmenu-29/brewster-vision-planning-committee.

After the comment period, the Committee will collect and consider the comments received, and revise the draft as appropriate.  When the final draft LCP is prepared, the Select Board and Planning Board will hold a public hearing on it (anticipated to be September 2022).  The draft LCP, as recommended by the Select Board and Planning Board, will be presented to Town Meeting for approval (November 2022).

The Vision Planning Committee encourages and looks forward to your comments.  For any questions, please contact Ellen Murphy, Vision Planning Committee Administrator, Brewster Planning Office, at (508) 896-3701 x.1168 or brewplan@brewster-ma.gov