Greenland cemetery trustees request transfer of trust income to maintenance fund; discuss land purchase, contracts

The Greenland Cemetery Trustees asked town officials to transfer restricted trust income into the cemetery maintenance fund established by Town Meeting’s Article 14 and discussed plans for future land purchases, mapping updates and contractor bids.

The trustees requested a written authorization so the town can move trust income into the cemetery maintenance fund approved under Article 14, Speaker 1, Cemetery Trustee, said. “The trustees of the Trust Fund would like a letter from you people,” Speaker 1 said, asking that the request be put in the town’s meeting box so the transfer can proceed.

Why it matters: the trustees said some trust accounts are restricted to particular cemeteries and must be spent only for those sites. Speaker 1 noted that the Town Cemetery Fund had a net income of $4,962 and emphasized that restricted perpetual-care proceeds must be used for their named cemetery. “That money has to be spent on the Prospect Hill Cemetery only,” Speaker 1 said; Speaker 2 confirmed the restriction.

Discussion and details: trustees reviewed several operational topics rather than taking other formal votes. Speaker 1 said a separate trust account — referenced in the discussion as the “other fund” — is intended for property purchase; the trustees recommended researching candidate parcels before asking Town Meeting for purchase authority. “Before you can go to Town Meeting, you have to…do some research. You may have to do a little surveying or something,” Speaker 1 said, adding that soil tests (digging pits) and basic surveying would be needed so a petition or Selectmen request to Town Meeting is credible.

Trust records and mapping also came up. Trustees said a cemetery map file (referenced as an MSI/PDF file) needs updating and that a town staff member named Amy has historically made updates. Speaker 1 said he or she will contact staff or local volunteers to obtain and refresh the digital map.

Contracts and maintenance: trustees reviewed bids and contractor outreach for mowing, road/drive repairs and sign relocation. Trustee discussion named McNeil (contractor) as a vendor who will provide a proposal and measurements for reclaimed asphalt or gravel for road repairs; other vendors on a bid list had not returned calls. Trustees said mowing bids were received and would be routed to the Selectmen (the meeting of the Selectmen was referenced as the body that handles contracts), and that contract decisions were expected at the Selectmen’s April 7 meeting.

Other operational items included planning a three‑year program to mark and repair damaged headstones, evaluating stonewall repairs, arranging spring cleanup and pruning large shrubs near headstones, and getting pricing for a cleaning solution (discussed in 5‑ and 55‑gallon sizes) for stone cleaning.

Formal action: the only recorded motion at this meeting was to adjourn. Speaker 2 moved to adjourn the meeting and Speaker 1 seconded; the motion was seconded and the meeting ended by unanimous voice consent.

What’s next: trustees said they will provide the requested letter and the paperwork (a form Speaker 1 said was placed in trustees’ boxes) so the town can process the transfer. They will continue collecting contractor proposals and expect the Selectmen to review contract awards at their next contract meeting.

Sources: remarks and procedural items are from the trustees’ discussion during the public meeting; no additional votes transferring funds or approving purchases were recorded in the transcript.