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Bow Select Board weighs changing cemetery hours after grieving residents raise concerns
Summary
After residents told the board they were asked to leave cemeteries outside dusk‑to‑dawn hours, the Select Board agreed to pause strict enforcement while staff and counsel draft ordinance language including a possible waiver process for families who need after‑hours access.
The Bow Select Board on Oct. 14 agreed to explore changing the town’s cemetery hours policy after residents said police enforced an existing dusk‑to‑dawn rule that interfered with private grieving.
Selectman Colby opened the discussion and proposed replacing variable dusk‑to‑dawn closure with a fixed overnight restriction “between 11 p.m. and 5:30 a.m.” as a starting point, citing the need to balance access with safety concerns for unlit and uneven grounds.
Town staff and the board repeatedly raised liability and safety as reasons for the current hours. The town’s head of public works, cited by the board, said the dusk‑to‑dawn approach is common and intended to protect residents and the town from injury and related claims.
Resident Holly Hislop told the board the problem affects a small number of families who “need to talk to [their loved ones]” at irregular hours and urged the town to adopt a waiver process so bereaved relatives can visit without being forced to choose between fines and solace. “If I’m gonna be there, I’m going to be there, and I don’t really care what you have to say,” she said, arguing she would accept a citation rather than be denied access.
Board members agreed on two next steps: (1) two board members and town counsel will draft ordinance language that could include a family waiver option, and (2) staff will meet with affected families to shape the proposal before it returns to the board. Select Board members also asked town staff to brief the police chief on temporary enforcement guidance; the board asked police to “stand down” on enforcement for about two weeks while staff works on language and outreach.
No ordinance was adopted at the meeting. The board characterized the action as a directive to prepare draft language and outreach rather than a binding policy change; a formal vote would be required if and when new ordinance language is placed on a future agenda.
