Lakeville Cemetery Commission asks DPW for maintenance help, approves several fence repairs and delays costly mapping upgrade

The Town of Lakeville Cemetery Commission voted Friday to ask the town Department of Public Works to create and maintain a path to Booth 1 Cemetery and to remove fallen trees and overgrowth, and it approved several fence‑repair quotes for town cemeteries while postponing higher‑cost work and a new software purchase.

The actions move routine maintenance tasks to the town DPW and clear the way for immediate, smaller repairs at multiple cemeteries. Commission members also approved an updated “rules and regulations” noncompliance notice for town‑owned cemeteries and authorized staff to research alternative cemetery‑mapping programs rather than approve a $2,100 one‑time add‑on to their current system.

Chairman Upham opened the Aug. 14 meeting in the Local History Room of the Lakeville Public Library. Commissioners reported recent storm damage and overgrowth at several sites: a fallen tree at Keith Cemetery that came down across utility wires and was removed by state crews; overgrowth, downed trees, a toppled sign and discarded mattresses at Haskell Cemetery (on land managed by the New Bedford Water Department); and a locked gate at a cemetery that had a rusted lock preventing maintenance access. Commissioners said they will contact DPW to arrange removal of fallen trees and vegetation and to discuss reattaching the Haskell sign.

On repair…