How the Brewster Select Board voted, from the Select Board’s official minutes. 5 Select Board members elected townwide. Amanda Bebrin joined the board after the May 28, 2024 town election; Kari Hoffmann left. Ned Chatelain chaired the June 3, 2024 meeting; on June 17, 2024 the board chose David Whitney as Chair, Cynthia Bingham as Vice Chair and Amanda Bebrin as Clerk. Covers 34 meetings, June 3 to May 12, 2025.
A monthly email on what it voted on, starting in November.
What does the Select Board do? It is the town’s executive board. It prepares the Town Meeting warrant (the list of articles voters decide), appoints members of many town boards, hires the town’s top staff, signs warrants to pay town bills, and grants licenses and permits.
Town Meeting, not the Select Board, votes the town budget and town bylaws.
In Brewster, Town Meeting — not the Select Board — votes the town budget, bylaws and zoning. Here is what it did with each article, in the Town Clerk’s own words. Any registered voter can take part, and most votes are by voice or show of hands, so there is no list of who voted which way.
Annual Town Meeting · May 4, 2026 29 votes: 27 passed, 1 passed as amended, 1 indefinitely postponed
Art. 12Acquire land at 0 W.H. Besse Cartway: $275,000 from CPA open space reserves (reconsidered; eminent domain struck)Passed as amended“Adopted by a unanimous vote.”
Art. 8Acquire a conservation restriction on about 20-22 acres at 379 Main Street, Harwich: $300,000 (eminent domain struck)Passed as amended“Adopted by a unanimous vote.”
Art. 18Petition: fund a town-wide Comprehensive Wastewater Management Plan (estimated $300,000)Indefinitely postponed“Adopted to Indefinitely Postpone.”
Art. 19Petition: non-binding resolution supporting Medicare for All legislationAdvisory“Adopted by a majority vote.”
Art. 20Approve a Nauset Regional School District Special Education Stabilization FundPassed“Adopted by a majority vote.”
Titles are short descriptions of each article from the official record; the quoted words are the Town Clerk’s. A vote at Town Meeting is not the final word on everything: some articles also need a ballot vote (such as a tax override) or the Attorney General’s approval (bylaws).
"At X of Y meetings" counts the members the minutes list as present at the start of each meeting in this record. Members who step out are listed on each meeting page.
Meetings
About missing minutes
Loaded: every Select Board meeting from January 2018 through August 31, 2026 whose minutes are posted in the town’s online records archive (Laserfiche), 338 meetings in all, including 29 closed (executive session) meetings from 2020-2021 whose minutes the board has since released. Not here: 50 meetings since January 2018 that have an agenda but no minutes in the archive (including September 14, 2026 and September 28, 2026), and separate executive-session minutes for meetings whose open-session minutes are loaded (the vote to go into executive session is in the open-session minutes). Brewster’s minutes are scanned paper copies with a computer-read text layer; we read that text (and, for five files with a missing or unreadable text layer, our own text recognition), and checked split votes against the page images. The minutes name the mover and seconder of each motion and give the result as a count (for example 5-0); from 2020 to 2024 most votes are also roll calls with each member’s yes or no by name. When the count equals the number of members present and no one voted no, or the minutes say all members voted in favor, we show every member present as voting yes; when the minutes give a roll call, or name the members who voted no or abstained, we show each member’s vote as recorded. Where the minutes give only a count with no names (for example 4-1), or the count does not match the members present, or a roll call lists a member the minutes show as absent or lists a member twice, we show the count only and add a note. Votes where the minutes give no count and no names are shown as result only. Members who had not yet arrived, had left, or stepped aside (recused) are left out of that vote. Votes by other boards at joint meetings (Finance Committee, Board of Health, Planning Board, Conservation Commission and others) are not included. We will ask the town to confirm any noted vote.
Most board votes are unanimous. These are the ones where at least one member voted no or abstained, newest first.
May 12Move approval of the Memorandum of Agreements with the…Motion: Move approval of the Memorandum of Agreements with the Police Patrol…Passed Unanimous, 4 present · see note
May 12, 2025: Move approval of the Memorandum of Agreements with the Police Patrol and Police Superior Officer Unions
ApprovePassed · Unanimous, 4 present
Move approval of the Memorandum of Agreements with the Police Patrol and Police Superior Officer Unions
Mary Chaffee stepped aside (recused) and did not take part in this vote.
From the minutes
“Selectperson Bebrin moved approval of the Memorandum of Agreements with the Police Patrol and Police Superior Officer Unions. Selectperson Bingham seconded the motion. All Select Board members voted in favor of the motion. The vote was 4-Yes, 0- No.” (Motion: Bebrin, second: Bingham)
Apr 16That the Select Board find that the March 20,2024…Motion: that the Select Board find that the March 20,2024 settlement agreement…Passed Unanimous, 4 present · see note
April 16, 2025: That the Select Board find that the March 20,2024 settlement agreement has been violated and as a result, the Board' s August 14,2023 order that the dogs are Nuisance Dogs…
Adopt orderPassed · Unanimous, 4 present
That the Select Board find that the March 20,2024 settlement agreement has been violated and as a result, the Board' s August 14,2023 order that the dogs are Nuisance Dogs shall become a permanent order of the Board that will remain in place for the life of the dogs
Ned Chatelain had left the meeting.
From the minutes
“Selectperson Chaffee moved that the Select Board find that the March 20,2024 settlement agreement has been violated and as a result, the Board' s August 14,2023 order that the dogs are Nuisance Dogs shall become a permanent order of the Board that will remain in place for the life of the dogs. Selectperson Bebrin seconded the motion. All Select Board members voted in favor of the motion. The vote was 4- Yes, 0- No.” (Motion: Chaffee, second: Bebrin)
Apr 7Recommend the Citizens Petition for Medicare for All to…Motion: to recommend the Citizens Petition for Medicare for All to the…Passed 4–1 · see note
April 7, 2025: Recommend the Citizens Petition for Medicare for All to the 2025 Town Meeting Warrant
ApprovePassed · 4–1
To recommend the Citizens Petition for Medicare for All to the 2025 Town Meeting Warrant
The minutes give only the count (4-1), not how each member voted. They also say all members voted in favor.
From the minutes
“Selectperson Bebrin moved to recommend the Citizens Petition for Medicare for All to the 2025 Town Meeting Warrant, Selectperson Bingham seconded the motion. All Select Board members voted in favor of the motion. The vote was 4-Yes, 1- No.” (Motion: Bebrin, second: Bingham)
Apr 7Move approval of the Short -Term Rental Task Force…Motion: Move approval of the Short -Term Rental Task Force Report to…Passed Unanimous, 4 present · see note
April 7, 2025: Move approval of the Short -Term Rental Task Force Report to Town Meeting
ApprovePassed · Unanimous, 4 present
Move approval of the Short -Term Rental Task Force Report to Town Meeting
Mary Chaffee stepped aside (recused) and did not take part in this vote.
From the minutes
“Selectperson Bebrin moved approval of the Short -Term Rental Task Force Report to Town Meeting. Selectperson Bingham seconded the motion. All Select Board members voted in favor of the motion. The vote was 4-Yes, 0- No.” (Motion: Bebrin, second: Bingham)
Apr 7Recommend the Citizens Petition for Electronic Voting at Town…Motion: to recommend the Citizens Petition for Electronic Voting at Town Meeting…Failed 2–3 · see note
April 7, 2025: Recommend the Citizens Petition for Electronic Voting at Town Meeting as presented
ApproveFailed · 2–3
To recommend the Citizens Petition for Electronic Voting at Town Meeting as presented
The minutes give only the count (2-3), not how each member voted.
From the minutes
“Selectperson Bebrin moved to recommend the Citizens Petition for Electronic Voting at Town Meeting as presented. Selectperson Chaffee seconded the motion. The vote was 2- Yes, 3- No.” (Motion: Bebrin, second: Chaffee)
Mar 24Recommend the Citizens' Petition on a Comprehensive Wastewater Management…Motion: to recommend the Citizens' Petition on a Comprehensive Wastewater Management Plan…Failed 0–5 · No: Bebrin, Bingham, Chaffee, Chatelain, Whitney
March 24, 2025: Recommend the Citizens' Petition on a Comprehensive Wastewater Management Plan to the Spring 2025 Town Meeting Warrant
ApproveFailed · 0–5
To recommend the Citizens' Petition on a Comprehensive Wastewater Management Plan to the Spring 2025 Town Meeting Warrant
No: Bebrin, Bingham, Chaffee, Chatelain, Whitney
From the minutes
“Selectperson Bebrin moved to recommend the Citizens' Petition on a Comprehensive Wastewater Management Plan to the Spring 2025 Town Meeting Warrant. Selectperson Chaffee seconded. A roll call vote was taken: Selectperson Bebrin- no, Selectperson Bingham -no, Selectperson Chaffee -no, Selectperson Chatelain- no, Chair Whitney -no. The vote was 0-Yes, 5- No.” (Motion: Bebrin, second: Chaffee)
Feb 24Approve the recommendation on the $ 25, 000 (…Motion: to approve the recommendation on the $ 25, 000 ( 50%)…Passed Unanimous, 4 present · see note
February 24, 2025: Approve the recommendation on the $ 25, 000 ( 50%) COLA of the HERO Act implementation and the 19 -hour conservation position with the addition of 2. 5 hours for…
ApprovePassed · Unanimous, 4 present
To approve the recommendation on the $ 25, 000 ( 50%) COLA of the HERO Act implementation and the 19 -hour conservation position with the addition of 2. 5 hours for a full-time Conservation Agent
Mary Chaffee stepped aside (recused) and did not take part in this vote.
From the minutes
“Selectperson Chatelain moved to approve the recommendation on the $ 25, 000 ( 50%) COLA of the HERO Act implementation and the 19 -hour conservation position with the addition of 2. 5 hours for a full-time Conservation Agent. Selectperson Bebrin seconded the motion. All Select Board members voted in favor of the motion. The vote was 4 -Yes, 0 -No.” (Motion: Chatelain, second: Bebrin)
Feb 24Recommend to Town Meeting to implement MGL Chapter 59…Motion: to recommend to Town Meeting to implement MGL Chapter 59 §…Passed Unanimous, 4 present · see note
February 24, 2025: Recommend to Town Meeting to implement MGL Chapter 59 § 5, Clause 221
ApprovePassed · Unanimous, 4 present
To recommend to Town Meeting to implement MGL Chapter 59 § 5, Clause 221
Mary Chaffee stepped aside (recused) and did not take part in this vote.
From the minutes
“Selectperson Chatelain moved to recommend to Town Meeting to implement MGL Chapter 59 § 5, Clause 221. Selectperson Bebrin seconded the motion. All Select Board members voted in favor of the motion. The vote was 4 -Yes, 0 -No.” (Motion: Chatelain, second: Bebrin)
Feb 24Recommend to Town Meeting to implement MGL Chapter 59…Motion: to recommend to Town Meeting to implement MGL Chapter 59 §…Passed Unanimous, 4 present · see note
February 24, 2025: Recommend to Town Meeting to implement MGL Chapter 59 § 5, Clause 22J
ApprovePassed · Unanimous, 4 present
To recommend to Town Meeting to implement MGL Chapter 59 § 5, Clause 22J
Mary Chaffee stepped aside (recused) and did not take part in this vote.
From the minutes
“Selectperson Chatelain moved to recommend to Town Meeting to implement MGL Chapter 59 § 5, Clause 22J. Selectperson Bebrin seconded the motion. All Select Board members voted in favor of the motion. The vote was 4 -Yes, 0 -No.” (Motion: Chatelain, second: Bebrin)
Jan 6Have a license agreement with the Preservation of Affordable…Motion: to have a license agreement with the Preservation of Affordable Housing…Passed Unanimous, 4 present · see note
January 6, 2025: Have a license agreement with the Preservation of Affordable Housing and Housing Assistance Corporation for infrastructure work at Spring Rock Village
ApprovePassed · Unanimous, 4 present
To have a license agreement with the Preservation of Affordable Housing and Housing Assistance Corporation for infrastructure work at Spring Rock Village
Amanda Bebrin stepped aside (recused) and did not take part in this vote.
From the minutes
“Selectperson Bingham moved to have a license agreement with the Preservation of Affordable Housing and Housing Assistance Corporation for infrastructure work at Spring Rock Village. Selectperson Chaffee seconded the motion. All Select Board members voted in favor of the motion. The vote was 4 -Yes, 0 -No.” (Motion: Bingham, second: Chaffee)
From the Brewster Select Board’s official minutes, posted in the town’s online records archive. We check every vote against the Select Board members present and quote the exact wording. MassVoter never grades or scores officials. Photos: Town of Brewster (Select Board and Staff Biographies page).