Vassalboro cemetery committee mulls over which trees to take down

by Mary Grow

During a short March 17 meeting, Vassalboro Cemetery Committee members decided the survey of trees in the Nelson Road Cemetery should be redone before the town seeks a contractor to take down any of them.

Committee member David Jenney said after previous discussions with cemetery committee and conservation commission members, Timothy Basham, owner of Basham Tree Service, Inc., in South China, had marked five of the seven pine trees in the cemetery for removal, as potential hazards.

Jenney was not convinced the other two pines should be left.

Committee members Jane Aiudi and Cindy Spaulding said they had trouble distinguishing Basham’s marks from other pieces of tape and flagging in the cemetery. Since residents, too, were supposed to weigh in on what trees should be removed, they recommend a clearer marking system.

Aiudi and, from the audience, conservation commission member Steve Jones wanted more information on the grading system Basham used to decide what trees should go.

Chairman Savannah Clark said she will ask Town Manager Aaron Miller about having the work redone to meet the concerns.

Committee members briefly discussed three other matters.

— Clark said select board members seem to favor adding insurance to cover town volunteers, like residents who inspect and help maintain cemeteries, in the 2025-26 budget.
— Committee members are not sure whether they are allowed to spend interest from cemetery funds, with select board approval. Apparently the auditor has said no; but Aiudi and Jenney are sure interest has been spent in the past. Clark will clarify with Miller.
— Committee member Jody Kundreskas reported that stone restorer Joseph Ferrannini, of Grave Stone Matters, in Hoosick Falls, New York, will be in Vassalboro from July 10 to July 13. Committee members will decide later where to ask him to apply his expertise.

The next Vassalboro Cemetery Committee meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. Monday, April 21.