Nantucket Cemetery Commission approves minutes; reviews monument restoration, ground-penetrating radar and adjacent development activity

The Nantucket Cemetery Commission on Wednesday, Oct. 10, approved the minutes of its Sept. 10 meeting and heard updates on several preservation projects, plans to use ground-penetrating radar at Old North Cemetery and concerns about development activity near Old Mill Cemetery.

The commission approved the minutes by roll call, with commissioners identified in the meeting as Scott (aye), Jason (aye), Lee (aye), the Chair (aye) and Fran (aye). The motion to approve was seconded by Jason; the mover was not specified in the record. The minutes motion was recorded as approved.

Commissioners were updated on the Monument Restoration Project at Newtown and New North cemeteries. Work at Newtown is under way, with some stones already reset and others temporarily supported with clamps because they had been exhumed or laid sideways. The commission said it expects to release the New North bid package the following Tuesday and has revised bid requirements to require references specifically for cemetery restoration work after a prior bidder’s references did not clearly document cemetery-specific experience. Staff said the revised language is intended to avoid lengthy disqualification processes.

Commissioners also discussed arranging for ground-penetrating radar at Old North Cemetery to locate subsurface features on the left side of the site. The commission said a contractor that may perform the survey will be contacted to schedule the work.

Fran told the commission that crew members who had been cleaning stones at Newtown reported they had also cleaned many stones in the Quaker Cemetery but had missed two stones near the corner of Quaker Road and Madaket Road. The commission asked staff to follow up so those two stones receive the same cleaning.

Members discussed a longstanding title and boundary review for a portion of the Newtown parcel; planning office records and a consultant report from 1998 indicate questions about whether a portion of the land had been legally conveyed and whether the area can be declared cemetery land. The commission said staff and outside parties are taking steps to demonstrate the area’s legal status before the commission proceeds with more detailed layout or use decisions.

Commissioners reported noticing recent police activity at one cemetery that appears to have been related to youths gathering near a pond and informal paths that lead from cemetery grounds to the pond; the commission said the police had investigated but did not relay specifics beyond confirming patrol attention to the site.

The commission discussed activity on a nearby parcel by a local developer that has posted signs and appears to be preparing for work. The commission said the landlocked parcel behind the cemetery is owned by a developer and that the land bank holds a right of way into that property. Commissioners said there may be a pending planning or zoning application (for example, a subdivision or waiver) but that the record is casual in the meeting and no formal application details were provided. Commissioners expressed concern that heavy equipment using a narrow driveway could operate close to cemetery property and trees; they said staff would follow up to determine what work is planned.

Other items included an update that a film about the historic colored cemetery will be shown at the Dreamland theater on Sunday, Oct. 19, at 4 p.m., and a report on layout work: the commission said it has markers on order and is awaiting delivery of “tow markers” to proceed with final layout work in some areas (the meeting record cited approximately 48 tow markers and about 15 remaining layout spaces, numbers presented as estimates).

Commissioner Scott said he plans to circulate designs and cost options for a proposed monument honoring Absalom Boston and his wife; commissioners agreed the item should appear on a future meeting agenda in December, and Scott said he would email materials ahead of that meeting so commissioners could consider them in November if he sends the information in time. Scott noted he will be traveling in November.

The meeting concluded with no public commenters recorded and the commission adjourning after the agenda items were addressed.