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Select Board declares Brentwood Poor Farm site an abandoned cemetery under state statute
Summary
After completing required public notices with no claimants, the Brentwood Select Board voted to declare the Brentwood Poor Farm Cemetery (tax map lot 206.090.001) an abandoned cemetery under state law, allowing cemetery trustees to proceed with next steps.
The Brentwood Select Board voted to declare the cemetery at the former Brentwood Poor Farm an abandoned cemetery after the statutory public-notice period expired with no family members or claimants coming forward.
The board’s action applies to the parcel identified in meeting remarks as tax map lot 206.090.001 and was taken after the cemetery commission confirmed the town met the statutory notice requirements. The declaration starts the formal process outlined in state law for abandoned cemeteries and allows cemetery trustees to carry out follow-up steps described in statute.
Why it matters: Town staff and trustees said the graves at the site are likely historic and that no descendants responded to the public posting; the trustees requested the declaration to enable the town to manage and preserve the site under statutory authority.
What the board heard and decidedJim Hajjar and the cemetery commission had previously briefed the board and confirmed the required notices were posted and the waiting period elapsed with no claimants. The Select Board then voted to declare the site abandoned under the cited statutory authority.
Action and vote - Motion: Declare the Brentwood Poor Farm Cemetery (tax map lot 206.090.001) an abandoned cemetery under the applicable state statute (mover: Andy; second: not specified). Roll-call: Andy — aye; Tom — aye; John — aye; Lenny — aye; Letty — aye. Outcome: approved.
Authorities and next stepsThe board referenced the statutory process required to declare an abandoned cemetery; meeting discussion cited the relevant statute as part of the record. The cemetery trustees will advise the board if further action or information is required for recordation, preservation or any reinterment that had already been handled by volunteers and trustees.
Acknowledgments and contextBoard members thanked Joyce Kegel for volunteer work reinterring remains and for her efforts with the cemetery project. The chair praised volunteers for treating the human remains with “the utmost of respect” during work to rebury remains at the original site.
EndingThe board declared the Brentwood Poor Farm Cemetery abandoned, authorizing cemetery trustees to proceed under state law and to report back to the Select Board on any further needs.
