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Fairfield Cemetery Board to focus 2026 work on headstone repairs, delays perimeter fence
Summary
At its Jan. 6 meeting the Fairfield Town Cemetery Board approved prior minutes, agreed to prioritize headstone repairs and site work in 2026, asked staff to gather information on volunteer versus contractor maintenance, and deferred a planned iron perimeter fence to 2027 pending further family outreach.
The Fairfield Town Cemetery Board on Jan. 6 approved its Nov. 4, 2025 meeting minutes and set priorities for cemetery maintenance in 2026, focusing on repairing broken headstones and deferring construction of a new iron perimeter fence until 2027.
Board Chair Holly Panek opened the meeting at 7:05 p.m. and led roll call; Town Recorder Stephanie Shelley attended as staff. Board Member Vern Carson moved to approve the Nov. 4 minutes, Board Member Brad Gurney seconded, and the motion passed unanimously.
In reviewing open items, board members discussed an inquiry from the Town Lawyer about the Town Service Member List and the history of a grave-discount policy for people who served on town boards or council. Board Member Brad Gurney said he replied to the lawyer’s email and Town Recorder Stephanie Shelley said she would search past Town Council minutes for the original approval and forward any findings to the board.
The board reviewed proposed updates to the cemetery property map; Shelley will relay the requested changes to Kent Withers and circulate a revised map to board members for approval.
For spring 2026 the board listed revised Rules and Standards and a discussion on cemetery maintenance — specifically whether to continue work with volunteers or contract a landscape company. "All Board Members voiced liability concerns," the minutes state; Chair Holly Panek will collect information to inform that discussion, and members were asked to review the newly adopted Cemetery Ordinance to avoid duplication when drafting the revised Rules and Standards.
The board unanimously agreed that site meetings in 2026 should focus on repairing headstones. Panek will contact Amy Barry to set dates for assistance with headstone repairs and will coordinate with the Roads Department to secure additional gravel along the cemetery’s south-side entrance lane. Board Member Brad Gurney proposed a longer-term project to beautify the historic water pump.
The board also voted unanimously to postpone the iron perimeter fence project in 2026 and to revisit it in 2027; Brad Gurney will reach out to the Koefford Family to explore whether fence lines can be squared up before proceeding with a permanent fence.
Board Member Vern Carson moved to adjourn; a board member seconded and the motion passed. The meeting adjourned at 7:40 p.m.
