A smaller crowd of concerned residents left the April 17 meeting of the Marion Select Board feeling better about the town’s cemetery regulations after member Randy Parker recommended during the continued public hearing that the fourth and fifth items be dropped from the Cemetery Commission’s revised proposal and Chairman Toby Burr agreed.
The 2-1 vote struck from the revised regulations two-space restrictions to flower beds around gravestones. One would have limited plantings to a maximum 12 inches straight out from the front side only of the marker or monument and only to the width thereof. The other limitation proposed that was struck would have required that any edging added around the flower bed must be flush with the ground.
The proposed restrictions were meant to ease the task of maintenance performed by the Marion Department of Public Works.
DPW Director Becky Tilden said that most gravestones are large enough that planting to the side or behind them puts those flower beds on another plot. Jody Dickerson pointed out that the 26 acres of cemetery in Marion are maintained by the same size staff as they were 20 years ago.
Former eight-year member of the Marion DPW Chris Washburn agreed “100%” with Dickerson and Tilden, recalling the many obstacles he encountered when on the job in the town’s cemeteries.
Select Board member Norm Hills’ disagreement went beyond the merits of the two regulations related to plantings. He thinks the Select Board should stay of the Cemetery Commission’s business.
Resident Joe Zora told Hills he had a problem with his involvement in the public hearing considering his wife Helen Hills serves on the Cemetery Commission. Helen Hills noted she has served on the commission longer than her husband has been on the Select Board. Norm Hills maintained his position that the decisions of the Cemetery Commission should not be subject to the Select Board’s vetting.
The meeting room in the Marion Town House Annex building was packed for the February 6 public hearing that provided the feedback that sent the Cemetery Commission back to work before meeting on February 27 to review revisions to its proposed changes in the regulations.
Among the proposals the Select Board agreed on was an adjustment to long-standing fees considered to be outdated. A $300 fee will be charged to fund the perpetual care of plots at the time of their sale, so residents will pay $300 per plot plus $300 in perpetual care, and nonresidents will pay $800 per plot plus $300 in perpetual care.
The cost of opening and closing gravesites will be as follows: On regular weekdays, $600 will be charged for regular burial and $250 for cremains (add $50 per hour after 2:30 pm); and on weekends and holidays $750 for regular burial and $325 for cremains.
Foundations will cost $125 per square foot (a 2×1-foot foundation would cost $250 and a 3×1-foot foundation would cost $325).
An existing regulation stipulated that only burial plots with a full burial in place first can be used for both full burials and cremains.
An added regulation states that “cemetery plots are for the exclusive rights of burial. Only the Town Department of Public Works (DPW) can perform burials, no private party is allowed to perform a burial.
Some of the other proposals were written to clarify existing ones.
Building Commissioner Bob Grillo presided over the meeting in the absence of Town Administrator Geoff Gorman.
In three separate votes, the board approved one-day alcohol beverage licenses for three 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm events to be hosted by the Marion Social Club, 44 Pumping Station: the May 19 Clamboil; the July 21 Portuguese Feast and the August 18 Senior Chicken Bake.
The board also approved a Water/Sewer commitment of $1,350 for a new water tap (April 2).
Burr and Grillo shared the duties of the town administrator’s report.
The Marion Board of Health has received grant funding to hold four seminars on stroke, the first on May 10 at 10:00 am at Cushing Community Center walking path, along with light refreshments and a raffle. Executive Secretary Donna Hemphill noted that Melissa Frappier hosted a wellness event last week.
On Thursday, April 25, Marion will host a Town Meeting warrant review at the Music Hall. The warrant went out in the mail and was expected to arrive at residences early this week. The Marion Town Election is scheduled for Friday, May 17, at the Cushing Community Center.
Grillo reported that the Benson Brook swap shop has opened, the construction of the harbormaster building remains on schedule and only slightly over budget while addressing land-fill issues including the discovery of some substandard materials.
“It’s going to be a gem once it’s done,” he said.
Bill Washburn, attending the meeting, suggested the town bring back the Harbor Days festival, noting the occasion of the new harbormaster building and how the town had over 500 people for a previous harbor tour.
The next meeting of the Marion Select Board is scheduled for Tuesday, May 7, at 6:00 pm at the Town House Annex building.
Marion Select Board
By Mick Colageo