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Westport staff brief board on Beech Grove Cemetery expansion and interim sale limits
Summary
Town staff said design work is complete for a Beech Grove Cemetery expansion that could add ~1,500 plots, but the town faces a roughly $200,000 funding gap; staff paused advanced plot sales and suggested options including resident‑only restrictions, further capital requests to CIPC or town meeting, and an audit of records.
Town staff updated the Select Board on plans to expand Beech Grove Cemetery, reporting that the proposed design would add about 1,500 plots on the cemetery’s north side but that construction cost estimates have left a funding shortfall of roughly $200,000.
Staff said the town currently has just under 200 plots available and averages about 65 plot sales per year, which equates to roughly three years of inventory. "The proposed design would provide approximately 1,500 additional plots," staff said, and explained that town meeting previously appropriated $200,000 from the perpetual care fund, leaving an estimated remaining gap. As a short‑term measure the cemetery department paused advanced plot sales; staff recommended options including limiting certain purchases to town residents, phasing construction or bringing updated cost estimates and capital requests to the CIPC or town meeting.
Board members cautioned against overly restrictive rules that could disadvantage displaced residents who previously lived in Westport. Staff said record reconciliation (with a new online platform) may also identify abandoned sold plots and help extend capacity without immediate construction.
Speakers: Town staff, Chair, Select Board members.
Authorities: none cited.
Actions: [{"kind":"other","motion":"Discuss cemetery expansion; pause advanced lot sales as interim measure and explore resident restrictions and capital funding options.","outcome":"discussion","notes":"no formal vote to change resident eligibility recorded"}].
