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Buckfield clarifies 'perpetual care' limits for Damon Cemetery, warns volunteers or budget increase needed
Summary
Town staff explained what the cemetery perpetual care fund covers, disclosed the trust balance and recurring costs, and urged residents to volunteer or accept a higher budget to increase service levels.
Town staff and the Buckfield Select Board discussed Damon Cemetery maintenance and the limits of “perpetual care” at the May 27 meeting, urging residents to volunteer or support a budget increase if they want more frequent or higher-level maintenance.
Public works staff described ‘‘perpetual care’’ on a new town webpage as ‘‘mowing. It's weed whacking, grass, seeds when it's needed, filling in low spots, the general maintenance of the facility. It does not include headstone repair.’’ The board and staff said headstone repairs and extensive restoration are not covered by perpetual care and that the town lacks funds and staff time to perform that work.
Town staff provided numbers to show the gap between current funding and demand: the cemetery perpetual trust fund balance is $62,323 and last year’s trust income was $3,143. Last year’s cemetery line in the town budget was about $11,000. Staff estimated two people mowing and weed-whacking the cemetery require roughly 40 labor hours, which they put at about $1,700 in wages and employment taxes for that work; that figure does not include blades, trimmer line or other consumables.
Staff said the Maine statute governing sale of cemetery lots directs that 30% of a lot sale proceeds be deposited to the perpetual trust fund; income from that trust pays for perpetual care. The town’s professional care fund, staff said, currently covers mowing roughly twice a year and no significant stone restoration or heavy maintenance work.
Because the ground was wet on Memorial Day weekend, staff said recent mowing created ruts in the cemetery; they defended the crew’s work given weather and a small crew and said they will avoid mowing in wet conditions to prevent further damage. Staff asked lot owners who are able to maintain individual plots (push-mower or hand trimming) to help and invited residents to form an ad hoc cemetery committee to explore options, including budgeting for hired contractors to move decorations and perform more intensive work.
The board clarified operational expectations: crews will avoid moving numerous decorations and will typically leave a 4–6 inch buffer around items to prevent damage; if the community wants crews to move decorations and perform more detailed maintenance, that service would need to be explicitly budgeted and paid for.
The board encouraged volunteers and thanked schoolchildren and other residents who helped with raking and cleanup earlier in the month. No formal board vote changed cemetery policy at the meeting; board members said they could form an ad hoc committee if residents express interest.
