Westford board approves narrower monument-size standards for new Pine Grove lots

The Town of Westford Board of Cemetery Commissioners voted unanimously on May 14 to amend the Monument Permit Application to reduce allowable monument widths for new lots at Pine Grove.

Cemetery Division Supervisor Connor Mendes told the board the application still reflected older, wider lot dimensions and that Section I at Pine Grove was designed six inches narrower after the 2022 expansion. He asked the board to change the permitted width for single-grave monuments from 2 feet 6 inches to 2 feet, and to change double- and three-grave widths from 3 feet 6 inches to 3 feet, while exempting headstones already placed.

Commissioner Mary Lyman moved to adopt the narrower dimensions as the townwide standard and to update official forms to list the operation as the Cemetery Division within the Department of Public Works; Marilyn Frank seconded the motion and all present voted in favor. The board clarified that headstones already installed under the previous standard remain allowed.

The change also includes adding explicit dimensions for three-grave lots to the permit for clarity. The motion document and minutes do not specify an effective enforcement date beyond applying the new sizes going forward.

The board also asked staff to update application forms to consistently refer to the governing body as the "Board of Cemetery Commissioners." The decision affects future monument permit reviews and installation criteria in Westford cemeteries.

The item was discussed in SEG 017–SEG 019 of the meeting minutes. The meeting adjourned shortly after the start of the session.