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Canaan trustees say they were excluded from groundskeeper hiring, consider creating part‑time sexton role
Summary
At a non‑public July 1 meeting, Canaan Cemetery Trustees said they were not consulted on a recent full‑time groundskeeper hire, reviewed a Memorandum of Understanding and agreed to measure June–July cemetery labor hours to set a weekly minimum; they also discussed creating a part‑time cemetery custodian/sexton position and put re‑hiring on hold.
Canaan Cemetery Trustees said they were not consulted on the town’s recent hire for a full‑time general laborer and groundskeeper and discussed creating a dedicated, part‑time cemetery custodian or sexton to restore oversight of cemetery maintenance.
At a non‑public meeting July 1 at the Mascoma Senior Center, Chair Lynne A. Murray and fellow trustees raised concerns that they had expected to participate in interviews and in drafting the job description for the position because it includes maintenance of cemeteries and burials. "We understood that we would have a role in hiring this Groundskeeper both in the interview process and in the writing of the job description...This did not happen," the minutes state.
Nancy Birkrem, secretary of the Cemetery Trustees, reviewed a Memorandum of Understanding with Acting Town Administrator Jack Wozmak and Public Works Superintendent Bob Henry and provided Bob with a preliminary Cemetery Procedures document referenced in the MoU. The trustees emphasized that while they fund only a portion of the groundskeeper’s salary, that funding comes from the trustees’ budget and is not part of the Highways/Public Works budget.
Select Board representative Scott Johnston proposed measuring the actual amount of time the new employee spent on cemetery work in June and July 2026, then combining those figures with salary data to establish a minimum weekly commitment. Trustees agreed to that approach.
The group also agreed to try to meet regularly with Public Works Superintendent Bob Henry to list cemetery projects and set timeframes for completion, while Bob would retain day‑to‑day supervision of employees on cemetery tasks.
Trustees reviewed a draft job description for a part‑time supervisory Cemetery Custodian and discussed creating a new sexton position to centralize responsibility and reporting to the trustees. Acting Town Administrator Jack Wozmak described the proposal as "a way to restore integration and sustainability." The idea was well received by those in attendance; the minutes say the change would be the subject of future public meetings. The question of re‑hiring the former groundskeeper was put on hold.
Nancy Birkrem moved to adjourn (Motion 54); Ellie Davis seconded. "There being no objections, the meeting adjourned at 7 p.m.," the minutes record. The draft minutes were submitted by Birkrem.
What happens next: trustees will measure June–July 2026 cemetery labor hours, continue regular coordination with Public Works, and bring the proposed sexton/job‑description changes to future public discussion.
