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Commission schedules cemetery-expansion discussion; water-tower columbarium option on the table
Summary
Chair Kevin Miller scheduled a July 2 meeting with the cemetery expansion committee to explore whether the rural cemetery water-tower area might serve in cemetery expansion or as a columbarium. He said land shortage and rising cremation rates make the issue urgent and recommended a feasibility study if committee interest is positive.
The Historical Commission on June 24 set a July 2 meeting with the cemetery expansion committee to explore options for adding capacity — including the rural cemetery water-tower site as a potential columbarium.
Chair Kevin Miller described the issue as time-sensitive because available land for burials is limited and cremation rates have increased. "It's time to start thinking very seriously about that," Miller said, adding that the commission has CPC funds available to underwrite a study if the cemetery committee wants one. The chair said he has scheduled a July 2, 1:00 p.m. meeting with the cemetery expansion committee to determine appetite for a feasibility study or other options.
Miller also flagged a separate but related effort on marking Revolutionary War-era graves in the old burial ground, which he described as a complicated undertaking involving competing existing markers and uneven ground-penetrating radar data; he deferred the longer discussion to a future meeting so the commission can focus on process and sensitivity. The commission indicated it will evaluate whether to proceed with a formal feasibility study, pursue CPC funding, or advance a more modest plan depending on cemetery-committee feedback.
Next steps: the chair will meet with the cemetery expansion committee on July 2; if that group is interested the commission will pursue a feasibility study and coordinate with CPC and the town accountant on funding and scope.
