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Fairfield cemetery board sets April 14 open house to explain plot sales and resident priority
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Summary
The Fairfield Cemetery Board scheduled an April 14 open house to walk residents through a new online gravesite application, confirmed a resident-first purchase order tied to a four-year eligibility rule, and agreed not to accept final payments that night while staff verifies eligibility.
The Fairfield Cemetery Board set an open house for Tuesday, April 14, with a 7 p.m. start (board members to arrive at 6:30 p.m.) to demonstrate the town’s online gravesite application and explain priority rules for purchases.
The meeting, announced March 12, is intended to give residents a step-by-step demonstration of the application, show the cemetery map and available plots on a screen, and provide paper applications for those who prefer them. Committee member (S4) volunteered to lead the presentation and show attendees how to locate the cemetery application on the town website and use a QR code to access it.
Why it matters: The board is implementing a staged sales process. Members confirmed a three-step priority: qualifying residents who meet a four-year criterion described in the ordinance, then one-time residents, and finally the general public. Staff (referred to in discussion as Cody and Stephanie) will finalize and verify the resident eligibility list before sales open so that the board honors the priority order.
Board members agreed that while both paper and online submissions will be supported, real-time updates are essential to prevent duplicate sales. The board decided to maintain an up-to-date Excel list of available graves and to update the map after sales are posted. If two people select the same gravesite, the board agreed to use a coin flip to determine priority. "If two people sign up for the same gravesite, we decide we're gonna flip a coin," said Vernon Carson (S2).
On payments, the board confirmed attendees will not be able to finalize purchases the night of the open house. "Which means that nobody will be able to pay that night," the chair (S1) said; the group agreed staff will hold checks or process payments only after confirming eligibility and receipt. Accepted methods will include check or credit card, and members warned that credit-card transactions carry a fee.
The board also discussed venue capacity and outreach. Members plan a targeted mailer to town residents (the group referenced a list of 57 households) and considered RSVPs to manage attendance. The board decided to test the online application in advance, print paper copies for distribution, and post clear directions from the cemetery page of the town website.
Next steps: Staff will finalize the four-year residency list, test the online application ahead of the open house, prepare paper applications and an Excel availability report, and circulate the resident mailer. The board will hold the open house on April 14 at 7 p.m. and proceed with sales only after staff verifies eligibility and payment receipts.