Cemetery Commission Minutes 07.16.26

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GUILFORD CEMETERY COMMISSION MEETING

THURSDAY 16 JULY 2026  9:30 a.m.

TOWN OFFICE

Cemetery Commissioners present:

Kyle Parker, Nancy Detra, Eric Morse, Carol Schnabel

Absent:

Eric Feindel

Selectboard Liaison present:

Sheila Morse

Call to Order:

The meeting was called to Order at 9:41 a.m.

Approval of Minutes:

May minutes were approved as submitted.

Old Business:

Nancy and Eric have submitted an article for the upcoming Gazette.

Kyle will check with Brown and Roberts to get a clearer quote for 911 numbers.

Flags- We discussed ordering more flags.  Uriel gave Carol the brochure and she will call and ask for a quote.

New cemetery commissioner.  Kyle will ask someone he thinks might be interested.  Carol and Nancy will prepare a statement for Uriel to post. 

Downed trees-  Kyle took care of the one at Wilkins Cemetery.  It was a big job.  Luckily no trees were damaged.  Rory must have taken care of the one at Carpenter Cemetery.

New Business:

Halifax Work Day-  Nancy and Carol went to help them. They were straightening and cleaning stones.  They are willing to help us as needed. 

Halifax now has a 10 year plan to remove all trees within cemeteries.  The town is budgeting to do it a little at a time.  We should assess our cemeteries to see whether they are at risk of damage from falling trees.  We discussed what could be done if trees on private property adjacent to our cemeteries were a risk. 

Budgeting for next year- We discussed the process and Sheila will talk to Elly about the best way to streamline it.

Cemeteries in the news:

Carol brought an article about the devastation at Acton Cemetery in Townshend.  Also in the news is an exhibit at the Rockingham Free Library about the town’s five municipal burial grounds. 

There also have been articles about Higher Ground Conservation Burial, a natural burial area on conserved land in Williamsville, VT.  We encourage green burials in Guilford.  We discussed perhaps creating a path in one of our cemetery’s wooded areas for people who want to spread ashes.

Kyle reported that Erin Tkaczyk has discovered an ancient burial ground across the Road from Baker Cemetery.

Stone cleaning:

We should do some whenever possible.

Should we have a presence at the Guilford Fair?  A questionnaire to assess level of interest in town cemeteries?  And information to hand out?

Adjournment:

The meeting was adjourned at 10:46 a.m.

NEXT MEETING:  THURSDAY 20 AUGUST, 2026 9:30 a.m.   WILKINS CEMETERY