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Trustees discuss state proposals on scattering, consider local recording policy
Summary
Brentwood Cemetery Trustees discussed recent New Hampshire legislative interest in green burials and ash scattering and signaled support for recording scattering events that occur in town cemeteries while raising questions about private-land scattering.
During the Sept. 11 meeting the Brentwood Town Cemetery Trustees discussed recent state-level attention to green burials and the recording of ash scattering.
Trustees said they expect discussion at the New Hampshire Cemetery Association meeting on Oct. 7 and planned to review any draft legislation before taking a formal position. The superintendent and trustees raised two practical questions: whether towns should require registration of scattering that occurs on private property, and whether scattering in an official cemetery area should be recorded with town records.
Trustees expressed a clear preference that scattering taking place inside a designated town scattering area be documented. "If somebody is scattering in an official area that we have listed as a scattering area, I think we should document that," a trustee said. They also noted existing record practices: when an urn is buried in town there is typically a cremation certificate and a town record; for scattering or private burial, record-keeping practices vary.
The superintendent said she would research the current RSA language referenced in the discussion, gather the draft legislative language if available and bring it to the trustees for comment. The board discussed possibly drafting a letter to the town’s state representatives and senator with local concerns once they have the bill language.
No formal vote was taken. Trustees agreed to collect information, review the proposed language and bring a local position to the next meeting or to the NH Cemetery Association session in early October.
