Researchers to survey Barton Cemetery; CRA board urged to attend community meeting

Members and residents reported that researchers from Janus Research will visit the Barton Cemetery and portions of the I-95 corridor in Palm Beach County to examine burial conditions and records. A board member said students from Florida Atlantic University participated in the initial survey work and that Janus Research came to the board's attention because Barton Cemetery is on the local register of historic places. The speaker said, "they were the families that had buried loved ones in that center had been burying them on top of each other," a description offered while summarizing prior findings; the speaker said no previously unknown unmarked graves were located in the survey they discussed. The researcher visit is expected to be presented at a community meeting Reverend James holds on the fourth Monday of each month at the Carolyn Sims Center; the speaker invited residents to attend and said, "Everyone's welcome to attend." The meeting date the speaker cited was uncertain in the transcript and was not confirmed during the CRA meeting. Board members said they want to compare the new GPR work with an earlier survey from 2011 to see whether findings differ. The speaker who reported the outreach said they did not yet know the Janus Research team's funding source or project sponsor and would provide more information when it becomes available. No formal action or vote was taken; the item was presented as new business and as information for the board and the public. Next steps identified at the meeting: researchers will present results to the community meeting when available; board members will be informed when the date is confirmed.