GUILFORD CEMETERY COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES 11.21.24

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THURSDAY 21 NOVEMBER 2024  9:30 A.M.

TOWN OFFICE

Cemetery Commissioners Present:

Nancy Detra, Eric Feindel, Eric Morse, Carol Schnabel

Absent:

Kyle Parker

Selectboard Liaison Present:

Verandah Porche

Call to Order:

The meeting was called to order at 9:45 a.m.

Approval of Minutes:

The October minutes were approved as submitted.

New Business:

Report on Meeting with Charlie Marchant to plan a VOCA workshop for next year-

   Carol submitted notes from the meeting.  Charlie walked around the Elmhurst

   Cemetery and suggested jobs we could work on:  cleaning, straightening, and

   repairing stones, brush cutting.  Date will be Saturday May 31, 2025.

   We discussed publicity- how to arrange for volunteers.  We will have a sign-up

   sheet at Town Meeting, put it in Front Porch Forum, and write an article in the

   Gazette.  Verandah will check on rules for student volunteers.

Budget- Verandah will report back to us.  We need to consider the cost of new flags,

   Maintenance (mowing), tree removal (is already in the current budget) and VOCA

   workshop.

There was a Guilfordite who asked Carol whether we could do a presentation on

   green burials.  We discussed setting up an event with a representative from the

   Manitou Project and/ or the Meetinghouse Hill Cemetery.  Eric Feindel noted that a

   cemetery in Gill MA says it offers green burials.  He will look into that.  Verandah

   will contact someone she knows who is making a video about this subject.

Eric will bring his records to our December meeting.

Old Business:

Blanchard Tree still not taken down. 

Cornerstones at Carpenter Cemetery (2 different families) have been installed.

We discussed the Forest Cemetery film and discussion that was at the Latchis recently.  Contact information for the VT Forest Cemetery is 802 234-1262 or

sexton@cemetery.eco.  Contact for the Higher Ground (Manitou Profect) is

Fred Taylor 802 254-2675 or highergroundconservburial.org or rtaylor@antioch.edu. 

Charlie Marchant mentioned the importance of each cemetery having a 911 address.

Carol will check with Elly about that.

Actions to be taken:

Eric will bring records to December meeting.

Verandah will get in touch with videographer about green burials.

Verandah will report back on Selectboard budget meeting

Verandah will check about cornerstones for recent cemetery plot purchase.

Verandah will find out about arranging for student volunteers (community service).

Eric will look for information about the Gill cemetery.

Carol will talk to Elly about 911 addresses.

Carol will call Kyle about Blanchard tree removal.

Nancy and Carol will prepare an article for the Gazette. 

Adjournment:

The meeting was adjourned at 10:30 a.m.

NEXT MEETING THURSDAY 19 DECEMBER 2024 9:30 a.m. TOWN OFFICE