Town of Brewster Sweeps Massachusetts Municipal Association Awards
On Friday January 19, 2024, the Town of Brewster won awards in all three possible categories at the Massachusetts Municipal Association (MMA) Annual Conference in Boston. These achievements mark the first time any municipality has won MMA awards in all three categories in a single year.
Brewster received the Kenneth E. Pickard Municipal Innovation Award for its hydration station initiative. This award, one of only three statewide, recognizes municipalities that have increased local government effectiveness through creative programs and projects. Brewster’s hydration station project was launched in 2020, when the Select Board, Recycling Commission, and Water Commissioners wished to make water access easily available, reduce the public’s need to purchase single-use plastic water bottles, and encourage the use of reusable water bottles. This was accompanied by the passage of a Town bylaw prohibiting the sale of certain single-use plastic water bottles. The Town has installed 18 indoor and outdoor water bottle filling stations including at the Brewster Community Pool, the Brewster Dog Park and The Captains Golf Courses. The indoor hydration station at Brewster Town Hall has avoided the use of more than 25,000 plastic water bottles. “This award recognizes Brewster’s excellence in finding creative solutions to challenging issues and our commitment to environmental protection,” said Select Board Vice Chair Mary Chaffee. Brewster Water Superintendent Paul Anderson, who worked closely with Vice Chair Chaffee on this initiative, added, “The Water Department was pleased to take part in this great project that reduces plastic use and highlights the benefits of drinking Brewster’s award-winning tap water.”
Select Board Vice-Chair Mary Chaffee & Town Manager Peter Lombardi
Brewster also won the MMA Municipal Website Award for communities with 5,000 to 12,000 residents. The new Town website, launched in March 2023, scored high marks in categories that evaluated navigation and organization of material, convenience of information, functionality, and the overall user experience. “We have heard a lot of positive feedback from our residents about our new website and we are thrilled that our efforts to make it an effective communication tool for our community have been recognized by our colleagues in local government,” said Town Manager Peter Lombardi.
Finally, Brewster was recognized with an award for 3rd place in the MMA’s Annual Town Report Contest. Town Reports serve to communicate important information to town residents and promote an understanding of local government. “The Annual Report was truly a group effort by all staff and committee chairs, and this is a credit to the tremendous work they have done in highlighting their accomplishments,” said Project Manager, Conor Kenny, who worked closely with Assistant Town Manager Donna Kalinick and Executive Assistant Erika Mawn in compiling and editing the final document.
Mr. Lombardi closed by noting that, above all else, these awards are ultimately a reflection on Brewster’s dedicated volunteers and employees. “These honors demonstrate the talent and commitment of all our staff and committee members, who spend their time and energy helping to make Brewster a recognized leader in municipal governance.”
Project Manager Conor Kenny & Town Manager Peter Lombardi