Council updates cemetery rules and approves two-year burial-services contract

The Trenton Town Council reviewed updates to cemetery policies and procedures, clarified rules about decorations and fees, and approved a two-year burial-services contract.

Speaker 6 provided copies of the proposed cemetery policy updates and told the council items placed by family members or routine decorations "must be placed on a headstone marker or face" and should not be left on surrounding grass because they interfere with maintenance; she said the groundskeeper has the right to remove items that impede upkeep.

Speaker 6 and others identified fee discrepancies between the town's older fee schedule and a newer list, noting that some new fees (for example, resident opening/closing fees and cremation fees) are higher than previously recorded and that, as written, the new schedule could leave the town operating "in the hole." The council agreed to make edits and circulate updated language to the clerk before voting.

The council discussed burial logistics, adding backup contacts for burial notifications (Casey or Kyle) and confirming how staff will be notified and who will be responsible for grave checks and coordination with grave-diggers.

Speaker 4 moved to approve the two-year cemetery contract and Speaker 6 seconded; the meeting transcript records council members answering "Aye" when asked by the chair and indicates the motion carried. The transcript does not contain a complete roll-call record of yes/no votes by name.

Next steps: staff will circulate the revised fee schedule for final review and ensure the clerk and on-call contacts are updated so burial notifications and maintenance procedures are clear.