Fairfield cemetery board outlines preservation plan after residents object to item removals

Residents and board members at a Fairfield Cemetery District meeting clashed over recent removals of decorations and solar lights from graves and discussed steps to preserve historic headstones.

The dispute centered on recent cleanup work in the town cemetery and how much personal items family members may place at graves while repairs and a historic-preservation effort are under way. Several residents said items placed for years had been removed without notice; the board described a phased effort with the state historical society to document and repair fragile stones.

Samantha Manso, a longtime resident, told the board: "I have lived here over 35 years. You guys have really never done anything for the cemetery. Never." Manso said she cemented flowers at her husband’s and son’s graves so they would not be moved and said someone pulled them out after the cleanup.

Board members and staff said the cleanup was part of a preservation effort tied to the town's engagement with the state historical society. A board member said the project is intended to “preserve the cemetery” and that some broken headstones will be taken to the state historical society for repair. The board described a process in which fragile stones may be removed, conserved in climate-controlled conditions, and then restored; one board member said restoration of an individual headstone can take as long as nine months.

The board said it has hired a photographer to document every gravestone and surrounding area before restoration begins. The photographer will identify which stones to prioritize and the board will return with a plan for leveling and preserving headstones. The board repeatedly asked families to be patient while the documentation and repairs proceed.

Residents at the meeting, including several who said they visit graves nightly, said items such as solar lights and small memorial items are important to grieving family members. One attendee said seeing a light on a grave when driving by is meaningful; another called the removal of coins left on veteran graves especially upsetting. Krista, a resident active in cemetery matters, offered a direct line: "A phone call for me anytime if there's something there that shouldn't be, just call me, and I will deal with it."

Board members said the immediate goal is to clear heavy concentrations of items that obstruct access and to identify and conserve the most at-risk headstones. They said the state historical society representative walked the cemetery with them to help determine which stones are repairable and how to do the work without further damage. The board emphasized it is not banning all small items placed directly next to headstones, but asked that families avoid scattering decorations across plots while work is underway.

The board also described other steps intended to improve cemetery management: a ground-penetrating-radar survey has been completed to map unmarked or disturbed graves; mapping and cross-referencing with historical archives is under way; and the board plans an open house (targeted for the first Tuesday in October) to allow families to learn how to purchase plots and to review rules and recordkeeping. The board said some markers that appear to be headstones are actually footstones for graves in other locations and that the mapping work is intended to resolve those issues.

Board members and a staff member discussed the cemetery's governance. Participants said the cemetery is currently organized as a cemetery district (a special service district), and they are exploring transferring ownership or administrative oversight to the town to access greater funding and administrative support, though no transfer was finalized at the meeting. Kent, identified as a staff member, said the county road that accesses the cemetery is owned in part by the county and that deed transfer paperwork will need review before any change in ownership is completed.

The meeting did include two short formal actions on routine business: the board approved minutes from the prior meeting, and later members moved and approved adjournment to continue the meeting at the cemetery. The board repeatedly invited residents to volunteer and participate in future meetings and work sessions as repairs begin.

The board said it will provide updates before items are returned, and families should expect staged work as stones are photographed, prioritized, conserved, and, when appropriate, returned to the cemetery.

Residents asked for clearer notice before removals and more transparency about who performed the Memorial Day cleanup; board members said the initial pre‑Memorial Day cleanup was not performed by the cemetery board and they do not know who contracted that work. The board said rules and signs were posted after Memorial Day to clarify interim restrictions while preservation and repair planning proceed.

The board asked families to avoid placing large concentrations of items on plots until the conservation work is complete and encouraged residents to attend the planned open house and volunteer for repair and leveling work.