Jefferson Select Board approves $34,742 plan to repair New Forest Vale headstones, schedules warrants for two other cemeteries

The Town of Jefferson Select Board voted July 15 to fund repairs and cleaning at New Forest Vale Cemetery, approving the use of $3,493.55 from perpetual-care accounts and $31,248.95 from the Cemetery Maintenance capital reserve fund (CRF). The total quoted cost for New Forest Vale is $34,742.50.

Amanda Simino, administrative assistant to the Select Board, presented account balances and vendor quotes and said the Cemetery Maintenance CRF holds about $36,151.78 (after interest). Simino also laid out quoted costs for two other town cemeteries: Old Forest Vale (quote $120,875.00; usable perpetual-care funds $5,052.49) and Hillside (quote $172,200.00; usable perpetual-care funds $5,510.71). The board voted to create warrant articles to fund Old Forest Vale repairs at the 2025 town meeting and Hillside repairs at the 2026 town meeting.

Selectman Norman Brown made the motion to expend the identified perpetual-care funds and CRF money for New Forest Vale and to prepare the two warrant articles; Select Board Chair Terri Larcomb seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.

The board did not specify a contractor in the motion; the funding decision covers vendor selection and work scheduling. The minutes do not specify whether any additional funding sources beyond the identified CRF and perpetual-care accounts will be sought for the Old Forest Vale or Hillside projects. Next steps include contracting for the New Forest Vale work this year and placing the approved warrants on the 2025 and 2026 town meeting ballots as directed.

The Select Board is scheduled to meet again on July 29, 2024.