Orleans holds off on Brewster rec merger plan
Select Board · Meeting of August 26, 2026
Orleans Select Board shelves a Brewster recreation merger after an hour of public pushback. Recreation Director Tom DiCervo announced he is leaving amid a family health matter, prompting Town Manager Kim Newman to quietly explore a pilot partnership with Brewster Recreation Director Mike Gradone to cover fall programming. More than a dozen residents, including Recreation Advisory Committee members Sharon Basso, Jamie Ballou and Tracy Murphy, warned the plan was rushed and risked Orleans' identity; Chair Kevin Galligan told staff "I don't want your job," and no vote was taken.
Separately, the board voted unanimously to accept a $150,000 anonymous gift for Eldridge Park, where construction bids came in at $3.71 million, and heard an update on the 78-unit Governor Prince affordable-housing project, now awaiting a Zoning Board of Appeals permit decision expected in November.
In the full story:
- Who Was There
- Organizations And Documents Referenced
- The complete report — 3,825 words
Source: the Select Board meeting of August 26, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.
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