Cemetery committee begins 2026-27 budget requests

by Mary Grow

The three Vassalboro Cemetery Committee members at the Oct. 20 meeting started considering their 2026-27 budget request, without making any decisions.

Remembering suggestions from audience members during this year’s discussions of tree trimming and tree removal, they talked about adding decorative shrubs – lilacs, for example – around cemetery borders.

New plantings would require maintenance, perhaps a new category in the annual cemetery budget. This realization led to a discussion of current maintenance responsibilities, specifically what the public works department is expected to do inside cemeteries.

Board members decided they should consult with Town Manager Aaron Miller and Public Works Director Brian Lajoie; and they should finish dealing with trees before adding new plantings.

Committee chairman Savannah Clark said Miller is talking with several arborists about evaluating trees for trimming or removal, after an initial RFP (request for proposals) earlier this month brought no formal replies. She could not predict how soon an arborist would be chosen.

Jody Kundreskas reported on stonework done over the summer, mostly by herself, fellow committee member David Jenney and volunteer Bruce Lancaster. She is pleased with improvements at the cemetery on Bog Road; although, she said, one stone is so damaged it cannot be repaired.

Kundreskas and Jenney estimated they have enough tools and supplies for repairs so they don’t need to ask for major spending in that category in next year’s budget. They probably will ask again for funds to hire Joseph Ferraninni, of Grave Stone Matters in Hoosick Falls, New York, to provide expert help.

Clark plans to have a draft budget request ready for review at the next committee meeting, scheduled for 6 p.m., Monday, Nov. 17, in the town office meeting room.

Jenney, having recently reviewed his files from his years on the cemetery committee, commented that he was impressed with how much the committee has done, especially in making information available to the public through computerized records.

He praised Lancaster for his help, and resident Donald Breton for taking responsibility for putting flags on veterans’ graves for Memorial Day.

Kundreskas said she had directed an out-of-towner to the computerized records to help him find family graves.