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Cemetery and facilities director asks for modest maintenance funding, presses for permanent facilities
Summary
Cemetery and facilities director James Burlingame told the Select Board the department’s operating budget is level‑funded for FY26 but flagged capital needs — paving in several town cemeteries, replacement equipment and a potential new facilities home at the old Station 2 location near the main cemetery.
James Burlingame, the town’s cemetery and facilities director, presented a level-funded FY26 operating budget and a five‑year capital plan at the Select Board’s March 26 budget hearing.
Burlingame said salaries are level‑funded under the Select Board’s directive and that overtime for after‑hours burials is covered by a revolving fund sourced from additional burial fees. He noted the department purchased a cemetery tent last year to support graveside services when families opt to forgo funeral directors, and the department charges a $100 fee for services where no funeral director is present to offset labor costs.
Capital requests focus on pavement work inside several cemeteries and a plan to replace aging small equipment. Burlingame estimated repaving Westridge Cemetery roads at roughly $34,000 (prevailing wage work), Union Cemetery roads at about $24,000 and Northside Cemetery at $22,000. He characterized these as order‑of‑magnitude estimates based on measurements and prior per‑ton pricing from DPW, and said prevailing wage rules require higher contractor costs.
Burlingame also proposed replacement of a 2012 John Deere utility loader (estimate $39,000) and a 2017 1‑ton pickup with plow (estimate $70,000), noting historic purchases were substantially less and that equipment price escalation is likely.
On facilities, Burlingame recommended the town consider the soon‑to‑be‑vacated old Fire Station 2 building as a consolidated facilities and cemetery equipment space because of its central location and utilities. He said the building is owned by the town and, while not in great shape, is dry and could be made serviceable with siding, roof and door repairs. Board members noted its proximity to the main cemetery and that the space may be large enough for cemetery storage and light equipment.
Burlingame also raised long‑term capital needs for municipal buildings, saying the south wing roof of the town hall is near the end of its life and listing a placeholder estimate of $150,000 for a roof and potential slate replacement; he also flagged deteriorating windows and interior carpet replacement as coming needs.
The presentation included historical context about Union Cemetery — a former private cemetery petitioned to the town in the 1960s after trustees died and records were lost — to explain low current activity and longer times between paving cycles.
Burlingame agreed to provide the Select Board with his capital plan copies and to work with DPW staff on timing and coordination.
