Trustees discuss vandalism at town cemetery, consider gate, hours and grant options

Board members raised repeated concerns about vandalism and restricted access at the town cemetery and discussed immediate and longer-term responses.

Speaker 3 reported that someone cut the chain and damaged the sign at the gate, leaving the chain too short to secure and making drive-in access difficult for residents who have trouble walking on uneven ground. Trustees discussed temporarily issuing keys, posting operating hours (suggested 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. or dark), and arranging staff or volunteers to unlock the gate for visitors as needed.

Trustees considered options and cost estimates for repairing or replacing the front gate and fence. Suggestions included replacing the chain-link gate with a more secure 6- to 8-foot fence and an iron ornamental gate; one trustee suggested obtaining quotes from a local fabricator experienced with farm and ornamental gates. Trustees also discussed preserving as many existing trees as possible during any fence work to retain the site's ambiance.

Speaker 5 recommended not delaying action and suggested the board consider available beautification grants as a potential funding source for a more decorative, durable gate. The board noted roughly $6,000 had been discussed previously for fence repairs and that some funding exists in the town's savings that could cover immediate repairs.

Next steps: staff will obtain quotes for gate/fence repair or replacement, identify short-term measures (replacement chain or locks) to restore access for visitors, and return to the board with cost estimates and any grant opportunities.