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Council approves rules, fees for Grove Cemetery columbaria
Summary
After a trustee presentation, the council approved rules and a fee structure for Belfast’s first outdoor columbaria at Grove Cemetery, including a $2,000 niche price plus $200 opening/closing and a $300 initial‑engraving charge; council directed staff to post public information.
The Belfast City Council approved rules, regulations and a fee schedule for the city’s first outdoor columbaria at Grove Cemetery.
Joyce Fenner and cemetery trustees presented the plan and the superintendent outlined the product: an above‑ground columbaria with 48 niches, each designed to hold up to two urns. The trustees proposed a price of $2,000 per niche, a $200 fee for opening and closing the niche (paid for the first time by the city as part of initial setup) and a $300 initial engraving charge, for a posted total of $2,500 for the first interment.
Councilors asked for clarification on capacity, engraving rules and the mechanics of opening and closing niches. Trustees and staff said the $200 fee covers the single open/close event needed to place an urn and that future openings would incur additional fees. Staff said they will post rules, fees and sample informational cards to the city website and provide contact information for residents interested in purchasing niches.
Councilor Mary Motier moved to accept the trustees’ recommended rules and fees; the motion passed 5–0.
The council noted trustees will review the rules annually and that staff will make public‑facing information available online so residents can review the process and costs.
