Trustees of Trust Funds / Cemetery Trustees / January 8, 2007

Trustees of Trust Funds: Mary Blank, Patty Little, Lucille Gorges

Cemetery Trustees: Patty Little, Roxanne MacConnell, Lucille Gorges

The minutes from the November and December meeting were accepted with minor clerical corrections.

Town Report:

Patty offered to write a draft for the annual report on behalf of the Cemetery Trustees and Trustees of Trust Funds.

Cemetery Trustees

Cemetery Rules and Regulations:

Mary reviewed the timeline for noticing the public hearing for changes to the cemetery regulations. Patty offered to prepare the public hearing notice for publication.

Records:

Mary noted that she and Lucille continued the research the various trusts and intent to create subject files on each Trust. They have also reviewed the vital events from 1996 to 2002 to identify interments that had not been property recorded on the deed and interment cards.

Village Cemetery Mowing:  

Two responses had been received in response to the request for proposals. Vermont Hillside Lawn Services at $5025.00 and Surf and Turf at $13,340.00. Mary noted that Barry Williams had offered his advice to the Cemetery Trustees in reviewing the proposals. Mary noted that she had spoken to several other potential bidders who were interested in filing a proposal. It was decided to extend the deadline. Patty indicated that she would inform the bidders who had already submitted proposals and will prepare a new public notice.

Trust for the Repair and Preservation of Village Cemetery Gravestones:

Mary noted that the Cemetery Trustees had received notice that a trust from Emerson and Ruth McCourt had been established for repair and preservation of village cemetery gravestones. The trust would utilize the interest earned minus the administrative costs. This new trust would obligate the Trustees to prioritize which gravestones need repair.

Five Cemetery Trustees:

Mary clarified her understanding of the warrant article to increase the Cemetery Trustees to five members. If the warrant article passed, the Selectmen could appoint the Trustees until the succeeding year in which candidates would file for office.

Cemetery Regulations:

The Trustees reviewed the final language changes in the cemetery regulations in preparation for the public hearing..

Common Trust:

Patty questioned whether the $500.00 for plot with perpetual care was sufficient for solvency of the common trust. The last increase in the rates was in 1998. Lucille suggested that the rates be reviewed in 2008.

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Trustees of Trust Funds

Mary reported that she had furnished copies of minutes as well as bank statements to the auditors. She had also received the Ms9 and Ms10 forms from the Department of Revenue Administration and once she has received the information from Citizens Bank the forms will require signatures.

Strickland Scholarship:

Mary suggested that a year end report be provided to the Strickland family and a discussion occur regarding the annual scholarships. She noted that the terms of the trust provide that the scholarship would come from the interest earned. When the funds were transferred to Citizens Bank the Strickland Scholarship benefited. The annual scholarships that have been award since then have been fully funded from the principal.

Next Meeting: February 5, 2007

Respectfully Submitted,
Patricia A. Little
Secretary

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Trustees of Trust Funds / Cemetery Trustees / January 22, 2007

Trustees of Trust Funds: Mary Blank, Patty Little

Cemetery Trustees: Patty Little

Due to the lack of a quorum, the minutes from the January meeting were tabled until the February meeting. Since various deadlines were approaching, it was decided to discuss the Village Cemetery platting and mowing projects and review the discussions with the other members of the Cemetery Trustees at a later date.

Mary provided copies of the quotes that had been received in response to the request for quotes for the Village Cemetery survey and platting. Patty noted that the quotes were difficult to compare, but it appeared that the warrant article should reflect a $7,000.00 appropriation. Patty suggested that the duties of the sexton should be deferred to a future meeting. Mary noted that the sexton’s duties were adopted in the form of a warrant article in March of 1988.

Mary distributed copies of the proposals that had been received for the Village Cemetery mowings. Two proposals were received. Surf and Turf at $13,000,000 and Hillside at $5,025.00. Mary noted that last year’s mowing totaled $2,932.00. Contracted out the mowing could cost an additional $2100.00. Patty suggested that the cemetery budget include the Hillside quote. Mary noted that if the mowing services were not contracted out that the Trustees should invest in larger mowing equipment.

Respectfully Submitted,
Patricia A. Little
Secretary

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