From Waitsfield Cemetery Commission
A recent Valley Reporter (August 14, 2014) article brought to light neighborly concerns regarding the condition of the fence at the Common Cemetery. Since that time progress has been made in replacing the 30-year-old fence thanks to the hard work of Paul Hartshorn and some volunteers.
But some clarification about the Cemetery Commission itself needs to be made. Many years ago the town voted to place its cemeteries under the charge of five elected cemetery commissioners. At that time all responsibility on the select board's part regarding the town's cemeteries ceased (18 V.S.A. 5373). The cemetery commissioners have sole control over monies received and expended for town cemetery purposes (V.S.A. 5377). So a request to the select board for help in repairing the fence was not within the select board's domain.
The town also decided at that time to divide the cemetery duties between two bodies – the cemetery trustees and the cemetery commissioners. The trustees are charged solely with the investment of funds derived from sale of burial lots. That money is not available to the cemetery commissioners, who are charged with the operation of the cemeteries. The commissioners derive their funds from burial fees.
No town property taxes are given to the commission save for the one-time vote at the 2011 Town Meeting. An article was warned (Article 11) to authorize expenditure of $10,000 to the Cemetery Commission for the maintenance of its cemeteries. That money was used to repair a stone wall in the Wait Cemetery, tree cutting in various cemeteries and the initial purchase ($3, 244.50) of fencing for the Common Cemetery. So the trustees' account of $353,000 as cited in the previous article is not available for the commissioners to spend. And the $27,000 to $30,000 also cited in the same article is divided between a CD as an equipment reserve fund ($11,634.02) and the remaining in a checkbook account for operation of the cemeteries.
Repair of the fence was begun in the summer of 2013 until the weather forced the work to end for that season. Only a small amount of the new fencing remained for work to resume this summer. Another truckload of fencing was recently purchased with the donated funds cited in the recent article. Excellent progress is being made toward completion of the project. But more money needs to be donated to purchase additional fencing. Each set, consisting of two rails and one post, cost $41 and the whole back side of the cemetery remains to be finished.
If it were not for the volunteer labor of Paul Hartshorn and others, the estimated cost of this project if it was contracted out would be around $25,000. So the cemetery commissioners are very grateful to everyone who has contributed to this project.
To make a monetary donation send a check made out to Waitsfield Cemetery Commission for fencing and mail to Brenda Mack, treasurer, Waitsfield, VT 05673. All designated donations will be spent to purchase additional fencing.
If you have any questions, listed below are the commission members:
Paul Hartshorn, president, 496-3471; Mike Anastos, vice president, 496-4263; Brenda Mack, treasurer, 496-3827; Liz Laferriere, secretary, 496-2515; Bob Danaher, commissioner/sexton, 496-6818.
We are all interested in keeping our cemeteries in good repair and making Waitsfield proud of them.
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