Cemetery Commission Meeting Draft Minutes 1.15.26

Old Business:

911 Addresses:
Eric Morse spoke to Jeff Nugent and Jeff is working on a 911 map for Guilford and the cemeteries will be on that map. Kyle will check with Jared Bristol to see if he suggests placing numbers on the cemetery signs.  We would place the numbers on the posts. 

Blanchard tree removal:
Charlie Munford will look at it again.
Verandah asked Matt Stinchfield to look at it and she hadn’t heard back.

Temporary grave marker at Blanchard:
Eric got in touch with a family member and has not heard back.  Eric will send a copy of that email to Verandah.  Verandah and Eric will both try to check on this.

Budget:
We need more information from Elly. Do we still have a reserve fund?

New Business:

Simulation of process when someone calls requesting to purchase a gravesite ahead of time, or upon the death of a family member.  Also, the steps taken when the family has already purchased the gravesite and now their loved one has passed away:

Eric guided us through the steps, including reviewing the parts he already told us about when we discussed this at Maplehurst Cemetery a while back.  Carol will take the notes from this meeting as well as the Maplehurst notes from that previous discussion, and create a document that can be used by cemetery commission members, town office employees, etc. 

It was suggested that we consider putting an article in the Gazette encouraging people to purchase gravesites.

Green Burials:

Carol brought a print-out from Massachusetts that explains green burials quite succinctly.  Eric mentioned that Townshend now has a green burial section in their Oak Hill Cemetery.  Carol will check on current Vermont regulations.

NEXT MEETING: 19 FEBRUARY 2026 9:30 a.m. Guilford Town Office