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Residents urge better cemetery upkeep; volunteer commission proposed
Summary
A resident raised concerns about the condition of town cemeteries and proposed forming a five‑member cemetery commission to centralize maintenance, fundraising and volunteer coordination; board members said they will follow up with a plan and noted statutory constraints for perpetual/capital funds.
During the audience‑communication portion of the meeting, a resident from Linenville urged the Select Board to address what he called neglected cemeteries and proposed forming a five‑member cemetery commission to manage maintenance, fundraising and volunteer work.
Robert Garrison (introducing himself as from Linenville) said he could recruit five candidates and suggested a commission would spread responsibility beyond the Select Board and create a plan for upkeep and fundraising. "I think it's important that we get something in place other than the Select Board," he said, adding that volunteers and local fundraising could help pay for needed repairs and maintenance.
Board members acknowledged statutory constraints on how perpetual and capital cemetery funds can be spent and said staff and trustees already maintain lists of needed work. Several members encouraged Garrison to coordinate with the town manager and staff and said the board would keep cemetery planning on its radar and consider formal steps—such as creating a commission or adding agenda items—in upcoming meetings.
