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Village Municipal Office Phone: 845-279-3760
Village Court Office Phone: 845-279-4020
Summer Hours: (Tuesday after Memorial Day until Friday before Labor Day) 
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday: 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. 
Friday: 8:00 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.

Village of Brewster, NY



New York State Grant Awarded to the Village of Brewster

Harckham Aids in Getting Brewster a New Backhoe Loader


By Eric Gross

Senator Peter Harckham joined Brewster Village officials to inspect the recently purchased piece of heavy equipment. Photo, Eric Gross

Senator Peter Harckham joined Brewster Village officials to inspect the recently purchased piece of heavy equipment. Photo, Eric Gross

Describing it as the “nuts and bolts of what we do,” State Senator Peter Harckham stopped by at Wells Park in Brewster last week to inspect a new tractor backhoe loader purchased by the village with a $50,000 state grant acquired by the Putnam lawmaker.

The equipment, which carried a price tag of $100,000, will be used this spring by the village’s Public Works Department.

While meeting with Mayor Jim Schoenig, Village Trustees Mary Bryde and George Gaspar and DPW Superintendent Domenic Consentino, Harckham said he was pleased to assist: “By receiving this money from the state, local property owners are being saved tax dollars. One way I can support our local municipalities is by helping them with the financial resources to carry out their high level of service.”

Mayor Schoenig thanked the senator for “again stepping up to the plate to assist our village. The new tractor backhoe loader is a much-needed addition to the DPW’s equipment inventory and will be a big boost to the department. It is a versatile piece of equipment that will be used multiple times a week for tasks like snow removal, water main breaks and sidewalk repair, to name a few. We appreciate everything Senator Harckham has done for the village over the years.”

Gross, Eric. 2024. Harckham Aids in Getting Brewster a New Backhoe Loader. Putnam County Courier, March 19.

SPRING HYDRANT FLUSHING DATE CHANGE TO MAY 8, 2024

THE SPRING HYDRANT FLUSHING WILL NOW BE ON MAY 8, 2024, PLEASE INFORM YOUR TENANTS OF THIS CHANGE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. SIGNS WILL BE POSTED AT THE ENTRANCES OF THE VILLAGE A WEEK BEFORE THE FLUSHING.

What is it that makes the water turn orange when they flush the hydrant?

Minerals – Primarily Iron & Manganese

The Village of Brewster supply source is ground water drawn from five sand and gravel wells.

The semiannual hydrant flushing purges the system of the accumulated settlement of these minerals suspended in the ground water.

Opening the hydrants and increasing the water flow causes the disturbance of this settlement so that it may be flushed from the system.

Does running the tap water make it clear up faster? 

No.  To the contrary, running the water prolongs the turbulence in the system.  The best thing to do is use as little water as possible for 12 to 24 hours so the system has a chance to settle out and clear. 

Why does my toilet run after hydrant flushing?

Sometimes tiny particulate gets caught under the flush valve seal in the toilet holding tank preventing it from sealing tightly.  The same can be true for washers and aerators (strainers) in faucets.  Make sure your faucets and toilets are not leaking and are unobstructed after hydrant flushing.  If you have strainers on washer supply hoses you should also check them but refraining from doing laundry for a 24 to 48-hour period from May 8th is recommended.  

Tri-State Streetlight Power Outage

ATTENTION TRI-STATE PARKERS:

The Village of Brewster is aware of the streetlights that are out in the Tri-State lot that resulted from a tree that took down the wires during the most recent storm. The Village is working with NYSEG to get the lights turned back on as soon as possible. If you would like to be escorted down to the Tri-State Lot from the train station, you may call the Officer On Duty at 914-804-8442.

Refuse Rate Increase for 2024

Attention all Residential Refuse users in the Village of Brewster:

On October 20, 2021, at the Village of Brewster Board of Trustees Meeting, the Board approved the Residential Refuse, Bulk and Recyclable Materials Bid that was provided by Suburban Carting. This new contract period begins on January 1, 2022, and ends on December 31, 2024, with the option to extend the contract for one or two years.

Beginning January 1, 2024, the Village will be increasing the price for the annual and monthly refuse bills to meet the current prices for overhead costs and processing fees that come with the billing. The new rates will be as follows:

                                                                                                2024

Refuse bill paid yearly in March:                             $475 per unit

Refuse bill paid using the monthly option:          $46.75 per unit, per month

Please note that the Village of Brewster requests bids from multiple carting companies and selects the bid that is the most cost-effective choice for the Village residents. When this contract expires at the end of 2024; the Village of Brewster will decide if they would like to continue with Suburban Carting for an additional year or send out a bid for the carting contract and follow the same procedure. The refuse fee pays for the overhead costs and the contractual expenses to continue the service that all residents must use.

If you would like to switch from either billing schedule, you must contact the Village Clerk at 845-279-3760 or via email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Before December 27, 2023. Please include your name, your residential address, and a telephone number. Please contact the Village Office if you have any questions.

Brush and Leaf Pick Up by Village Department of Public Works

ATTENTION VILLAGE RESIDENTS,

The Village of Brewster Department of Public Works will be going through the Village on a weekly basis to collect unwanted leaves and brush. Hedge and tree trimmings should be tied in bundles no larger than three feet in length and 16 inches in diameter. Leaves that need to be picked up must be loose on the edge of the street but off of the sidewalk. Leaves will only be cleaned up if they are on the side of the street. After November 30th of each year, grass clippings and leaves shall be placed in open plastic containers or paper bags for collection. Do not intermingle grass clippings and leaves with other debris such as rocks, wood, metal, hard plastics, tree branches of any size, etc. This will damage the vacuum that cleans up the leaves and will delay collections. Wet leaves will not be collected. Tree stumps will not be collected.

Please review the Village Code: Chapter 205: Solid Waste for more information.

Winter Street Parking and Sidewalk Maintenance

Village of Brewster

WINTER STREET PARKING

Please be advised that the parking of vehicles is prohibited on all streets and highways within the Village of Brewster during the winter months as follows:

NO PARKING

DECEMBER 1 to MARCH 15

2:00 A.M. to 7:00 A.M.

Main Street Only

11:00 P.M. to 6:00 A.M.

All Other Streets

Winter Village Resident Parking Permits are available in the Village office for Tri-State Parking Lot.

$60 for 7 PM to 7 AM

$140 for 24-hour parking

Purchased permit valid December 1, 2023 through March 15, 2024

Telephone: (845) 279-3760

Village of Brewster

SIDEWALK MAINTENANCE

SNOW & ICE REMOVAL

Sidewalk Repair and Maintenance (§ 218-8 — § 218-11) excerpt from Village Code:

§ 218-8 Responsibility of owners and occupants.

A.  The owners and occupants of properties adjoining sidewalks commonly used by the public in the Village of Brewster shall keep such sidewalks in repair and free and completely clear of snow, ice, dirt, and other obstructions. With respect to the clearing of snow and ice removal, such must be removed within 24 hours after the period in which such snow or ice has accumulated.   All other repairs and maintenance shall be performed within a reasonable time period.

§ 218-10 Enforcement.

This article shall be enforceable by the Village of Brewster Highway Superintendent and Code Enforcement Officer, and/or Village Police, who are hereby authorized to issue and serve an appearance ticket with respect to violation(s) of this article.

In addition to a violation and potential penalty, the Village will clear the sidewalk and charge the property owner for the cost of the snow/ice removal.  Unpaid balances will be relevied on your taxes.

DO NOT THROW SNOW IN THE STREET!

Village of Brewster Police Department Law Enforcement Grant

The Village of Brewster Police Department would like to thank the National Rifle Association for awarding the department with a Law Enforcement Grant worth over $1,000. This grant allows the Village Police Department to have access to continued firearm training and ensures that the officers can continue to safely and successfully protect this community. The Village is thankful for this grant and thankful that the officers continuously go through training to make themselves better police officers and better protect the Village of Brewster residents and surrounding communities.

Prospect Street One-Way Consideration

Dear Village Resident,

On March 1, 2023, at 7:30 PM the Village of Brewster Board of Trustees will be hosting a public forum at Village Hall, 50 Main Street, to discuss the Prospect Street traffic issues that occur on Sundays.

The Board of Trustees has received complaints regarding the difficulty in parking and traveling on Prospect Street on Sundays and is considering making the road a one-way on Sundays to provide some relief.

While this is not the final decision, the Board is asking for public input on the change to gauge what the other options may be and how to relieve this area of congestion on Sundays.

Please note, this meeting will not be streamed on Zoom and all who wish to speak are welcome to do so during that part of the meeting, which will begin at 7:30 PM. If you are unable to attend but would like to provide your input, please send any questions, comments, or concerns to Village Clerk Michelle Chiudina, at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with the subject line: Prospect Street.

The Board of Trustees is looking forward to working with the community to determine the best solution for traffic flow in this area.

 

THE VILLAGE OF BREWSTER BOARD OF TRUSTEES DECISION:

The Board has decided to allow St. Lawrence Church to continue with its parking lot project in hopes that it will alleviate some of the congestion on Prospect Street. In the meantime, the Board has instructed the Village Police Department to patrol the area, especially on Sundays, for patrons who are blocking residents' driveways, speeding, and other infractions. This increased enforcement will help ensure the safety of those in the area and those visiting the area and will begin immediately. Anyone who violates the law will be ticketed and towed at their own expense. Once the parking lot is completed, the Board will invite the public to a meeting and reassess the issues with traffic flow in this area. The minutes from this meeting will be posted on March 15, 2023, please contact Village Hall if you have any questions.

 

Village of Brewster Email Blast

Please This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.to sign up for email blasts from the Village of Brewster, regarding closings, Board agendas, hydrant flushings, and other important information.