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Select Board places Cemetery CD article on town warrant after debate over using principal
Summary
At its April 28 meeting the Andover Select Board voted to place an article on the town warrant to move a cemetery certificate of deposit from a trust account into a Cemetery Improvement Account, while members asked for legal review and expressed concern about spending the CD principal.
The Andover Select Board voted April 28 to place an article on the town warrant that would move a Cemetery certificate of deposit from the trust account into a Cemetery Improvement Account, but members said they want legal guidance before authorizing use of the CD principal.
Why it matters: The CD is maturing this week and the cemetery committee told the board it intends to use proceeds for a list of maintenance projects. Chair Brian Mills said he was concerned that withdrawing all of the money might concentrate spending at a single cemetery rather than across the town’s sites.
During discussion, Treasurer Amber Cooper said the committee is not planning to spend the entire balance in one year and that "we have a whole list of projects for all the cemeteries." Cooper added the CD matures this week and that last year the account earned about $1,300 in interest, with roughly $9,600 earned over the life of the CD while it sat in trust.
Mills said he wants confirmation that the cemetery committee met and formally voted on a plan and requested legal input before approving use of principal. "I am opposed to using all the money but not opposed to putting on the warrant," Mills said, pressing for clarity on whether the committee had a pricing and distribution plan.
Justin Thacker said reinvesting or withdrawing could both make sense depending on the committee's plan. Cooper said the select board will manage how funds would be spent if voters approve the article and that the committee is working on a spending plan.
Action taken: On a motion by Brian Mills, seconded by Justin Thacker, the board voted to place the Cemetery CD article on the Town Warrant. The motion carried. The vote approves placing the article for voters to consider; any transfer of funds would depend on voter approval and any further steps the board or town counsel advises.
Next steps: The board asked for legal review (MMA Legal was mentioned in discussion concerning other items) and scheduled additional meetings to finish warrant business later in the week.
