Owners of privately held cemetery tell Oakland commission they maintain common areas but cannot clean deeded graves without family permission

Town commissioners reported on Aug. 12 that the owners of a private cemetery responded to the commission’s inquiry by explaining the cemetery is privately owned, plots are deeded, and the owners maintain common areas but do not have authority to clean or alter individual headstones without the plot owners’ permission. Commissioners said they had sent a letter about the cemetery’s condition and received a response from the ownership group. The group said each plot is deeded and headstones are privately owned by family members; the ownership group’s duties, as described in the response, are to sell remaining lots, mow and maintain common areas and manage plot sales. Town staff and the ownership group discussed liability and event logistics. The ownership group told the commission it does not carry liability insurance for volunteers to clean individual graves, and staff said a future volunteer event would likely require event‑specific insurance or a formal release. Commissioners suggested that organizers contact the ownership group and the families of interred persons to request permission for cleaning and that the town could offer to coordinate permission requests and secure required temporary insurance for an organized event. No enforcement action or policy change occurred at the meeting; staff said they would follow up with the ownership group and advise organizers to contact families and secure permissions before volunteer work on individual plots.