CEMETERY COMMISSIONERS MEETING OF APRIL 4, 2003
Present: Robert E. Pease and Julian E. Szarlan. Herman E. Hasenjager did not present at this meeting. Also present were Paul B. Lovell, John R. Nothe and Gaylin Bingle.
The meeting of December 6, 2002 was not held due to deer hunting. The meetings of January 3rd, February 7th and March 7th were not held due to inclement weather.
OLD BUSINESS:
Tree Trimming – Paul said he hasn’t had the trees trimmed in Hillside Cemetery. Dennis Gunther never did get back to Paul and now the funds to have this done were given back to the town. The town asked all the departments for any funds that could be forfeited to help the town financially for the remaining fiscal year. Paul gave half of the cemeteries remaining balance back to the town. $2,219.00 was given back to the town while $2,119.75 was kept in the cemetery accounts.
NEW BUSINESS:
Seasonal Help – Paul said the seasonal help will not be coming back this year due to the 10% budget cuts requested by the Finance Committee. He said he and John will do the best they can to maintain the cemeteries. Mr. Pease said to stop with the over-time and to only hold burial during the week. Mr. Szarlan said letters should be sent right away to the undertakers stating burials will only be held on Tuesdays to Fridays, unless a call comes in early enough on a Thursday or Friday to allow the grave to be dug allowing for a Monday burial. It was also suggested to place an article in the newspaper stating there would not longer be any openings, burials or sales of lots during the weekends due to the budget cuts.
Unemployment – Paul put in a request to the Finance Committee for $2,630.00 from the General Fund to cover the cost of unemployment paid this fiscal year to a seasonal employee. The employee is allowed to collect for 30 weeks with extensions after the 30 weeks. Paul was told seasonal employees are only allowed to work 16 weeks. This way they are ineligible to collect unemployment and thus save the town money by not paying this. Paul said it is hard enough to find someone willing to work from April to November and didn’t feel as though he could follow this rule. The Commissioners agreed to have Paul resubmit this request for the $2,630.00 to the Finance Committee.
Vandalism – Paul said a few stones were broken and tipped over in Hillside Cemetery. Four were done recently and some were tipped over during the winter for possibly a total of seven stones. Paul said it is still too cold to repair these stones now.
Truck Repair – A tie rod was bad on the front of the Cemetery pick-up. John and Paul replaced this for a cost of $146.00.
Two-Way Radio – The two-way radio went in the Cemetery truck. This is used when plowing for the Highway Department. This was repaired at a cost of $130.00.
Plow Blades – Two plow blades were purchased this winter for a cost of $56.80 each for a total of $113.60.
Damaged Markers in Hillcrest – Paul said he was contacted by Joan Donahue who said her flat marker was damaged. Paul said during a winter burial the backhoe did chip a corner of her marker and also put a chip in one of the roses carved in her marker. Ms. Donahue would like her marker repaired. Paul said this would cost approximately $500.00 to repair. This is not covered under her homeowners policy as it was not damaged by vandalism. Don Boucier looked at the stone and said with aging the damage might not show. Mr. Boucier also told Paul that cemeteries don’t usually cover this unless the marker is broken in half.
Mr. Szarlan made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 9:50 a.m. Mr. Pease seconded the motion.
Respectfully Submitted,
Gaylin Bingle
Clerk
4, 2003
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