Selectmen acknowledge cemetery trustees’ appointment of superintendent and confirm temporary alternate trustee

The select board on Monday acknowledged the Cemetery Trustees’ decision to continue Joyce Kegel as the town’s superintendent of cemeteries and approved a temporary alternate trustee appointment to cover the trustees until the regular appointment cycle.

Cemetery Trustees Chair Jim Hazier told the board Kegel has served in the superintendent role for several years and had continued her duties despite a recent family leave, and the trustees asked the select board to note the appointment. The chair also explained that the trustees had recommended Caleb Labbe as an alternate earlier, but paperwork had not been filed because Labbe was briefly out of town; the board approved his interim appointment through June 30 so the trustees have two alternates while the town completes standard committee appointment processes.

RSA language was read into the record to confirm the trustees’ authority to appoint a custodian or sexton; the select board recorded a roll‑call vote approving the interim alternate appointment and ratifying the trustees’ superintendent continuation.

Why it matters: The superintendent handles day‑to‑day cemetery operations; confirming continuity of the role preserves local memorial operations and record‑keeping.

What happens next: The trustees will complete the required paperwork for the alternate appointment and will advertise committee openings in the normal cycle for full‑term appointments.