Select Board October 16 Meeting Recap: Board Approves Hunting Regulations

Town Manager Peter Lombardi explained that Town Meeting approved a new Town bylaw in 2022 allowing bow hunting in the Punkhorn Parklands for a three-week period in December.  Since the Select Board, Conservation Commission, and Water Commission all own Town property within the Punkhorn, those committees each adopted a new policy in 2022 that incorporated the boundaries for bow hunting identified on this map.  Mr. Lombardi noted that there was no increase in the number of hunting permits purchased last year, and there were no issues or incidents reported in the Punkhorn last December.  Based on the results of the first year, the Select Board and Conservation Commission voted to adopt the same policy for 2023-2024.  Mr. Lombardi noted that reminders about the rules and regulations for hunting on Town property will be posted on the Town’s website and social media pages as well as at kiosks at trail heads and on signage along the perimeter of the buffer zones. Residents are required to purchase a hunting permit through the Town Clerk’s office.

The Select Board discussed and voted on a few remaining warrant articles for the Fall 2023 Special Town Meeting. The Board first heard from a resident who submitted two citizen petition articles, both of which aim to regulate short-term rentals in Brewster. The first article would create a registration system for short-term rentals, while the second would limit the number of short-term rentals an owner can have in Brewster. Select Board Chair Ned Chatelain, Selectperson Hoffmann and Selectperson Whitney, noted that, while they were interested in the general intent of the petition articles, they had a number of concerns about whether the approach to regulating short-term rentals outlined in the petitioned articles was the right way to solve the issue. Select Board members also noted that their current Strategic Plan identifies this topic as an area they think merits consideration by stakeholders in the next year.  The Board voted against recommending these articles to Town Meeting.

Amanda Bebrin, Chair of the Planning Board, presented on proposed amendments to the Accessory Single-Family Dwelling Unit (ADUs) bylaws. Ms. Bebrin explained that the purpose of these amendments is to further encourage the creation of ADUs to help address year-round housing supply concerns in town, while at the same time preserving residential neighborhoods. The proposed amendments seek to apply lessons learned in Brewster and surrounding towns since the bylaw was originally adopted in 2018.  The new language emphasizes that ADUs are not for commercial or short-term rental use, but rather for year-round dwelling use, in keeping with the single-family residential uses to which they are accessory. The Select Board voted to recommend this article to Town Meeting.

Mr. Lombardi next presented on the proposed opioid settlement funds appropriation in the Town Meeting warrant. Mr. Lombardi explained that Brewster has participated in several class-action lawsuits related to the opioid epidemic, several of which have been settled. The Town is eligible to receive varying levels of annual payments from these settlements for the next 15 years, totaling just under $500,000. The state has very specific and rigid protocols for expenditure of the funds. This article seeks to segregate these funds into their own separate account.  Mr. Lombardi explained that the Town will conduct a public outreach process to solicit input from individuals and families significantly impacted by the opioid epidemic on how the funds should be utilized. The Select Board voted to recommend this article on the Fall Town Meeting warrant.

At the conclusion of their meeting, the Select Board voted to close the warrant for the Special Town Meeting, which will be held on Monday November 13 at 6PM at the Stony Brook Elementary School.