Commission plans long-term maintenance schedule after years of deferred work; staff asked about burial records

Commissioners agreed to explore a long-term maintenance schedule to manage periodic high-cost years after noting that Village Cemetery has not had a major brush/tree cleanup in about 15 years.

Gary Lamell reported he has mostly finished shed cleanout at North Branch and said the commission should consider scheduled brushhogging around fencelines. At Carr, members said they will reassess a maple tree next season and continue targeted branch removal to avoid harm to fences and headstones. The commission discussed setting a recurring inspection cadence — for example assessing trees and fence conditions every X years — to better plan funding and staffing.

Separately, Brigid provided Kris with a folder of recorded burial transit permits and the commission discussed where those records should reside; many permits were for Center Road or home burials and the commission noted it has no role in burials outside North Branch Cemetery. Members assigned follow-up tasks: Steph will contact Gordon Ellms about Carr fence work; Kris will contact JM Yard Svcs about gravestone repair and locate recorded permits; Gary will contact Jonathan Haggett about Village tree work.