Peabody’s Public Services subcommittee reported on plans to develop Section K (K-1 and K-2) at Cedar Grove Cemetery, describing the area as an expansion with roughly 229 double lots plus space for cremations and noting available city funding and a live RFP.

Councilor Mark Turco, reporting to the full council, said the section would add 229 double lots and space for columbariums and that an RFP for groundwork was open until Oct. 16. He told the council the mayor had identified $315,000 available for the project—$200,000 from a recent council dispersion and $115,000 from an earlier appropriation—with $50,000 of that money earmarked for columbariums.

Turco reported about 15 residents attended a cemetery commission meeting to express concerns about presales and about a proposed “toe to toe” burial arrangement, which would place graves back-to-back and limit the ability to inscribe the back of a headstone and could affect maintenance. Cemetery Commissioner Celeste Sullivan and other commissioners discussed the issue; Turco said the commission had temporarily ceased presales and that the commission’s intent could be to end presales permanently, subject to the commission’s decision. “In this instance, the council has no authority to override the cemetery commission,” Turco said, framing the discussion as informational for residents.

Councilor James McGinn asked for a more detailed map locating Section K; Turco said the mayor provided that detail during the meeting. No motions were made in the subcommittee report to the full council; the matter remains with the cemetery commission and under review.