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 repairs and contractor quotes, the commission approved the following lower‑cost items and tabled higher‑cost proposals: a revised quote of $498 for repair work at Keith Cemetery (created after storm damage), a $598 quote for Booth 2 Cemetery, and a $6,611 quote for Pickens 2 Cemetery. A $2,200 quote for Pierce Cemetery and a $13,290 quote for a Booth 2 fence enclosure were tabled for later consideration.

Commissioners also reviewed the commission’s cemetery database software (referred to in the packet as SIMS). Staff reported an offer to add Strowbridge Cemetery with a one‑time mapping charge of $2,100 and an increased annual maintenance fee rising from $850 to $1,000. Commissioners declined to approve the $2,100 addition and instead voted to keep the current program through its next renewal while giving Deb (the commission’s staff member) authority to research and report back on alternative programs (including a suggested vendor, Pontem) at the next meeting.

The commission unanimously approved an updated noncompliance notice for town‑owned cemeteries, changing the cure period to 30 days and tightening the text to include only the first sentence of the rules and regulations on the notice form. Commissioners said the revised document will be distributed for use at the next meeting.

Other business included a deed audit and Route 79 project easements. The commission reviewed and agreed to sign easement paperwork for Thompson and precinct parcels related to the Route 79 project; staff said the project manager will separate out the Oral and Haskell Cemetery easements so those can be signed separately. Members also discussed a deed‑book discrepancy at Strowbridge Cemetery (Plot 12 appearing on two deeds) and asked staff to file a memo with the town clerk to correct the deed book.

Commissioners raised budget concerns: the commission’s FY2026 line is shown as $10,900 in the packet, and members noted recent payments (including an $840 invoice to a vendor called Raymaker) that had been applied to the current budget rather than the prior year. Commissioners said they will discuss the accounting entries with the town administrator and accountant; they noted that planned work (a Beaver Tree Works estimate for about $2,000 and an upcoming contractor contract in the roughly $9,000–$9,700 range) will require additional town funding requests.

The meeting also covered practical matters: sale and marking of recently sold plot spaces, replacement of a rusted gate lock (padlock $17.99, spray paint $9.99 on the vendor statement), and a report that Colonial Stone has uprighted and repaired a number of monuments under a CPC project.

The commission set its next meeting for Sept. 9, 2025, at 10 a.m. in the Local History Room. The group asked staff to reserve the room on a standing basis for the second Tuesday of each month and to post meeting information on the town’s website.

Votes at a glance - Motion to accept minutes of prior meeting: approved (unanimous). - Motion to request DPW assistance to create/maintain a path to Booth 1 Cemetery and remove fallen trees/overgrowth: approved (unanimous). - Motion to table repairs for Strowbridge Cemetery until September: motion recorded as tabled. - Approval of revised Keith Cemetery quote ($498): approved (unanimous). - Approval of Pickens 2 Cemetery quote ($6,611): approved (unanimous). - Approval of Booth 2 Cemetery quote ($598): approved (unanimous). - Pierce Cemetery quote ($2,200): tabled. - Booth 2 fence enclosure quote ($13,290): tabled. - Motion to approve updated cemetery noncompliance notice: approved (unanimous). - Motion to keep current mapping program until renewal and authorize staff to research alternatives (decline $2,100 Strowbridge add): approved (unanimous). - Agreement to sign Route 79 easement documents for Thompson and precinct parcels: approved (consent/recorded agreement).

Commissioners emphasized that several items (notably larger contracts and budget increases) will require town accounting and, in some cases, separate town approvals before work proceeds.