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Select Board authorizes cemetery database update, provisional signage bid and seeks building quotes
Summary
Thomaston's Select Board authorized a cemetery database update, provisionally accepted a volunteer's quote to make 22 avenue markers (pending a prison quote), and directed staff to collect more bids for building window and repair work.
The Thomaston Select Board on Feb. 20 authorized a slate of administrative and maintenance actions for village properties, including an update to the cemetery database, provisional acceptance of a volunteer signage bid and instructions to collect additional repair quotes.
The board voted unanimously (Motion: Rod Grindell, second Ryan Fitzpatrick; 7–0) to authorize Sue Christensen to work with Greg Hamlin, the designer of the original ACCESS cemetery database, to update and bring the records current. Sue reported she had contacted sextons in Damariscotta and Warren about available cemetery database systems and cautioned against adopting free programs that may later impose hidden charges.
On signage, Peggy McCrea presented designs and a materials quote of $618.84 for 22 avenue marker signs. Peter McCrea volunteered to make the signs but needs a firm decision by Feb. 28 for materials to arrive and work to complete by the end of March. The board provisionally accepted the McCreas' bid, subject to review of a competing quote from the prison (Motion: Ryan Fitzpatrick; second: Rod Grindell; 7–0).
The board reviewed repair estimates from Kohltech: $22,000 to repair the green cinderblock storage building and $4,600 to replace all six windows in the white building (labor included). A 12-by-18-foot wood replacement of the green building was estimated at $9,800. The Select Board decided to prioritize window replacement and directed Ron Gamage and staff to gather additional quotes, including from Lowe's and other local vendors (Motion Rod/Ryan; 7–0).
Tim Hoppe requested permission to sublet the village cemetery mowing contract to his father, who does the mowing; the board said a new contract would be required and Sandy Moore will confirm town rules before approving any subcontracting.
Procedural notes: motions recorded in the meeting include authorization for the database update, provisional acceptance of the signage bid conditioned on a competing quote, and direction to gather more window quotes. The sexton's report listed no recent burials, the board approved the Jan. 23, 2025 minutes and scheduled the next meeting for March 27, 2025.
Next steps: Sue Christensen will proceed with Greg Hamlin on the database work; trustees and staff will compare the signage quotes and gather multiple bids for building work before returning with final recommendations.
