Brewster Faces Big-Ticket Capital Projects Through 2030

BREWSTER – While the May town meeting capital requests are significantly less than previous years, voters can expect more large-scale requests within the next five years. 

Last week, Town Manager Peter Lombardi presented the updated five-year capital improvement plan which included over $58 million in major projects — and those are just the projects with price tags. 

Major projects through 2030 include: Stony Brook Elementary’s updated roof, HVAC system and a completed code compliance study ($30.9 million); Captains golf course maintenance building update, irrigation system replacement and water source supply project ($21.3 million); the recycling center campus improvement project ($4.7 million); and a fire engine replacement ($1.3 million). 

While these are the projects with price estimates, there are a number of major projects with unknown costs. Those include the proposed community center, library renovations and improvements, Drummer Boy Park improvements, Route 137 improvements, the Sea Camps Pond Property housing and wastewater costs, and the potential impacts of the elementary and middle school efficiency and regionalization study. 

All of these projects come with additional context, criteria and supplemental information that will dictate funding resources and needs. For example, the housing and wastewater project on the Pond Property is currently in the hands of the affordable housing trust to conduct a feasibility study (see separate story). The feasibility study will determine if the property is acceptable for housing and wastewater, which will then impact the funding amount based on conceptual designs. While this is a big “maybe,” the town will still include it in the five-year capital plan as a placeholder. The community center is in a similar position. 

Lombardi, along with assistant town manager Donna Kalinick, presented a detailed report of capital project requests for the next five years. The summary presented requests of $100,000 or more. The requests this spring totaled a little over $1 million, with the majority stemming from public works projects. 

Next year’s possible funding requests could jump exponentially, coming in at just under $19 million. This is due to the Captains golf course capital projects, which would be funded through the golf enterprise fund. In 2028, voters can expect another high figure: $16.5 million for a combination of Sea Camps funding, golf funding and public works funding, with a number of smaller projects on the docket as well. 

In 2029, capital requests more than doubled, with a total of just under $44 million. About $8 million is presumed to be funded through long-term debt while $31 million is funded through one-time exclusion debt. 

By 2030, capital funding requests are back down to just over $4 million. 

Funding sources include free cash, enterprise funds for the water and golf departments, ambulance receipts for the majority of the fire department’s requests, the capital stabilization fund and potential state and federal grants. 

This spring, town meeting voters can expect $1.1 million in capital funding requests. The majority of the free cash capital requests were funded at the fall special town meeting. 

Rental registration and inspection services will total $60,000 from free cash, which is the only request from town hall. The fire department is looking at $35,000 for mobile computers, $100,000 for personal protective equipment and $35,000 for the five-year strategic plan update. If approved, the complete $170,000 request will be funded through ambulance receipts. 

The elementary schools will request a total of $85,000 from free cash. This will fund updated security for both Stony Brook and Eddy Elementary, Eddy’s playground repairs and general painting and maintenance for both facilities. 

Also included in the spring town meeting warrant will be the Nauset Regional High School annual capital allocation. The $292,679 request will come from the tax levy if approved by voters. 

The water enterprise fund is the source for funding to replace a water meter to the tune of $80,000, and the golf retained earnings will fund $75,000 in clubhouse painting.

The new phasing plan for the Sea Camps comprehensive plan, which was adopted last fall, will begin with the first $365,000 capital request for the Pond Property. The town is not responsible for any of this funding; the Brewster Conservation Trust donation will cover $50,000 in woodland plantings, $180,000 for an all-persons access trail, $60,000 for trail expansion and $40,000 for building demolition. The feasibility study is seeking $35,000, but this will be covered by a state grant if the property is found feasible. 

As of June 30, the town’s free cash was certified at $3.75 million. This fall, voters approved $2.27 million in capital projects. This spring, a total of $145,000 in free cash will be requested to use for capital expenditures. If all capital requests are approved this spring, the town will have a year-end free cash balance of $1.33 million. 

Within the next few weeks, the select board will share more information about the spring town meeting warrant. The meeting is scheduled for Monday, May 4 at 6 p.m.