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Chester Cemetery Association approves trustee, awards fence contract and advances maintenance plans
Summary
At its Feb. 3 meeting, the Chester Cemetery Association unanimously approved Cheri Ferrari as trustee, voted to divide West End aisles into single‑urn plots, awarded an $8,250 fence contract for the Old Burying Ground and advanced multiple signage, grant and maintenance requests.
The Chester Cemetery Association met Feb. 3, 2025, at Town Hall and unanimously approved several administrative and maintenance measures, including the nomination of Cheri Ferrari as a trustee and an $8,250 contract to replace fencing at the Old Burying Ground.
President Christine Nelson opened the meeting at 6:30 p.m. and trustees confirmed a quorum. Secretary Lee Foster reported approval of Oct. 7 and Dec. 1 minutes and noted correspondence including thank‑you notes from three families.
Treasurer Cable presented the 2024 Annual Financial Report, which trustees accepted as presented; Cable will file the report with Probate Court. Trustees approved submitting a request to the Town for a $1,000 contribution for 2026. The treasurer also recorded a $50 donation from Elaine LaFlair for cleaning Fargo family stones.
Vice President Jeanne‑Marie Bellows said four two‑urn plots sold at West End Cemetery in 2024, and trustees voted unanimously to divide aisles at West End into single‑urn plots to increase plot options. Nelson and Bellows will coordinate a fall tour of West End with the Historical Society. Nelson and Trustee Adrian Nichols said they will review proposals for a CT‑SHPO grant application of $5,000 to fund a geophysical survey of burial locations.
Trustees nominated Cheri Ferrari to fill a trustee seat; the nomination was approved unanimously. Discussion of staggering and limiting trustee terms was continued to a special meeting March 3.
The board flagged several rule and enforcement issues for the Agent for the Cemeteries: a non‑regulation Aley marker at Laurel Hill that extends into an adjacent plot, repeated incidents of dogs off leash and pet waste (trustees directed installation of new rules signage and asked for seasonal reminders in Town publications plus police monitoring), and boats being launched from Laurel Hill for hunting or fishing (seasonal reminders and police monitoring were directed). Trustees reached consensus that the CES PTO Halloweentown event at Laurel Hill is an inappropriate use of cemetery grounds; Vice President Bellows will ask the Agent to discuss relocating the event with the PTO. A PTO proposal to solicit illuminated sculptures was rejected by consensus.
Laurel Hill trustees reported two burials in 2024. The board has requested town funding for three Laurel Hill projects: an identification sign for $3,200, gatepost restoration for $4,250 and avenues resurfacing estimated at $240,000; DPW will install visitor rules signs and VRHS volunteers will return in May under trustee supervision.
For the Old Burying Ground and other Goose Hill Road cemeteries, trustees noted that the Board of Selectmen approved an application for a CT‑OPM grant of $5,000 to restore up to 15 gravestones. The trustees unanimously approved awarding the Old Burying Ground fence project to Merola Landscaping based on a quote of $8,250 to remove the old fence and install 170 feet of 3‑foot black aluminum fence; work will be paid from association checking.
Trustee Adrian Nichols will scan early Association financial records found at Town Hall as part of a records‑keeping project, and trustees discussed options for an online record‑keeping platform. Trustee Lorraine Connelly will coordinate development of a potential Association website and online content. Trustees also discussed a proposed capital fundraiser (signage and related items); Cheri Ferrari, Jeanne‑Marie Bellows and Heather AmaraMiles will coordinate and continue the matter to the March 3 meeting.
The association did not resolve its tax‑exempt status at the meeting; President Nelson will consult the Town Attorney and an accountant and trustees continued that item to the March 3 meeting. Trustees also continued discussion of the Perpetual Care Fund and a proposal to invest a percentage of plot sales pending research on other cemeteries' practices.
The association scheduled a special meeting for March 3, 2025, at 5 p.m.; a Cemetery Checkup on April 6, 2025, at 12 p.m.; and a business meeting on June 2, 2025, at 4 p.m. The meeting adjourned at 8:15 p.m.
