Vassalboro cemetery committee satisfied with summer plans

by Mary Grow

Vassalboro Cemetery Committee members are satisfied with their plans for summer maintenance work.

Four members who met May 19 expect the annual professional help from Grave Stone Matters, in Hoosick Falls, New York, from July 10 to 14. Joseph Ferrannini is scheduled to repair stones in the large North Vassalboro Village cemetery, committee chair Savannah Clark said.

Clark said Town Manager Aaron Miller has arranged insurance for local volunteers, who can begin work when the weather permits.

Tree removal is scheduled for the Nelson Road cemetery, near the south end of Nelson Road, and the Farwell-Brown cemetery, on Riverside Drive not far north of the Augusta city line. Bids to do the work are due at the town office by 3:30 p.m. Monday, June 16, according to the town website.

Committee members settled two issues discussed previously.

The document titled “Trees and Stones: A Balancing Act in Vassalboro Cemeteries”, is now on the Vassalboro website, for public information. It is under the heading Cemeteries, the second item under “Rules for Vassalboro Cemeteries.”

This statement, approved by the town select board, makes it clear that the cemetery committee is responsible for trees in cemeteries, including removing those that are potential hazards to stones, fences or other structures.

In a related matter, David Jenney found a 2010 town ordinance, repeated in December 2023 cemetery rules, forbidding planting trees or invasive plants in any Vassalboro cemetery.

The second issue, raised at the committee’s April 28 meeting, was how deep cremains should be buried in cemeteries. Committee members’ research had found no law or other firm requirement. They decided to stay with what seems to be consensus: three feet deep preferred when feasible, but not a strict requirement.

Committee member Jane Aiudi had two more concerns.

Referring to a state law she found saying municipal authorities are responsible for marking veterans’ graves for Memorial Day, she asked what arrangements town officials have made to make sure the graves are properly marked.

Clark said later that currently, Vassalboro volunteer fire department member Don Breton (who served on the select board some years ago) has assumed the task.

Also, Aiudi was concerned with the reach of right-to-know laws. Committee members are aware that if three (or more) meet outside a meeting (at the supermarket, for instance), they cannot legally talk committee business: such discussions can only be held in a properly announced meeting.

Aiudi, citing a conversation with Miller, feared her telephone calls might be subject to right-to-know laws if she mentioned committee issues to anyone. Members also wondered whether, when they are working together on cemetery repairs, they can discuss what they’re doing.

Jody Kundreskas suggested they could talk about the work they were doing, but not about policy matters. Clark reminded the group that last year, at least some of their work days were publicized in advance for anyone who wanted to come.

The next regular Vassalboro Cemetery Committee meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. Monday, June 16.