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Council approves $32,000 transfer to address cemetery maintenance needs after resident complaints
Summary
After public concerns about the condition of the town cemetery, the council amended and approved Order No. 160 to transfer $32,000 from the unassigned fund balance for a second fertilizer treatment and a utility buggy replacement, with public works to report back on implementation.
The Millinocket Town Council voted on June 25 to authorize a $32,000 transfer from the town's unassigned fund balance to the cemetery maintenance budget after extended discussion and public comment.
Chair Grama outlined five operational issues that prompted the request and said the $32,000 proposal breaks down to roughly $13,000 for a second fertilizer treatment and about $18,000 to replace an aging utility buggy used for equipment transport. He said the town's mower fleet remains functional for now and that overtime for existing public works staff is being considered as a less costly alternative to hiring additional personnel.
Resident Sandy Sullivan told the council the cemetery had been left in poor condition and that a single household mower could not reasonably maintain the town's roughly 30-acre cemetery. The chair responded that purchasing the buggy now would leave the town with a stronger equipment rotation and that a new mower could be considered next year.
Councilors also discussed the size of the town's unassigned fund balance (reported in the meeting as $3,017,902.16, unaudited) and a formal policy the town uses to maintain multi-tier cash reserves. The motion to specify the $32,000 transfer and approve Order No. 160 passed on the floor.
Public Works was assigned follow-up tasks including procurement of the replacement buggy and application of the second fertilizer treatment; the council requested a report back to the town on implementation.
