March 5, 2007 / Trustees of Trust Funds / Cemetery Trustees

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

Cemetery Trustees: Roxanne MacConnell, Lucille Gorges, Patty Little,

Cemetery Trustees  

Purchase of Cemetery Plot:

Roxanne reported that Sally Mosher continues to be anxious about the purchase of a cemetery plot. Lucille remarked that she was surprised that the Moshers would not be interested in the Lake plot #180, which will not be used and which will be sold back to the town. The Lake plot #180 is immediately next to plot #179 which is the Mosher/Nichols lot. Roxanne indicated that she would confirm with the Moshers that they were not interested in being adjacent to the other family members.

Budget:

Mary noted that there was a 63 percent increase over last year’s cemetery budget. This was attributable to several reasons. First, past budgets have not reflected a gross budget as required by RSA 32:5 III. In addition, the original agreement for mowing had the Town paying for 4 mowings at the Village Cemetery and 2 mowings at the West Yard Cemetery. This was not a proper distribution of the mowing expenses because perpetual care funds are plot specific and are private funds. The appropriate use of perpetual care funds would be based upon the ratio of plots with perpetual care versus those without. Mary noted there are no perpetual care agreements for the West Yard Cemetery.

She continued that through the research and indexing of the cemetery deeds it was determined that 25.6 % of the interments include a common trust obligation. It was noted that during the 1980s there were many interments made and the perpetual care was not collected. It is difficult to approach the grieving family about the perpetual care at the time that the discussions regarding the burial are taking place. It was noted that it was important that before interments occur that there should be verification of when the plot was purchased and whether there is a perpetual care amount that is due. As it is the Sexton who is dealing with the funeral director or the family it should be the Sexton’s responsibility to address this issue.

McCourt Trust:

Mary reviewed the terms of the McCourt trust that would be explained in the town report. The Cemetery Trustees would receive the interest accrued minus an administration fee and minus 10% of the proceeds that would be reinvested. Mary projected that the Cemetery Trustees could expect to receive approximately $1200.00 a year for monument maintenance.

Mary noted that no resident had come forward to file for the position of Sexton.

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Trustees of Trust Funds

Town Meeting:

Mary noted that the Department of Revenue Administration’s MS 9 and MS 10 forms had been signed and mailed. She reviewed Articles 8, 14, 15 that were being submitted by the Trustees of Trust Funds and Articles 19, 20, 21 and 22 that were being submitted on behalf of the Cemetery Trustees.

Mary suggested that handouts of the Sexton’s duties be available at the Town Meeting in case there were any interested residents. Any reference to the mowing responsibility should be removed and a reference to the supervision for the contracted mowing be inserted. Although the position of Sexton could be an appointed position, there has been a tradition in Marlow that the position be elected. The Sexton does not receive any compensation except for the interment charges that are paid by the family. Any repairs for the cemetery would either need to be funded from the petty cash or a specific perpetual trust, if appropriate.

Respectfully Submitted,
Patricia A. Little

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Special Meeting

Trustees of  Trust Funds / Cemetery Trustees / Special Meeting / March 22, 2007

Present:

Trustees of Trust Funds: Mary Blank, Patty Little

Cemetery Trustees: Mary Blank, Patty Little, Roxanne MacConnell

Town Meeting:

Mary reported that all warrant articles including the cemetery budget of $5425.00 had passed.  A public notice had been posted soliciting interests in the newly created Cemetery Trustee positions.  Gerry Plotts had already spoken to the Selectmen regarding her interest in being appointed. 

Mary continued that there were several individuals receiving write in votes for Sexton though no one received more than six votes.  Roxanne will contact Rupert Thompson (who received the highest write-in votes) to see if he had any interest in the position without the mowing commitment.  The Trustees discussed other residents in the community for possible appointment.

Mowing Contract:

Mary reviewed the mowing contract proposals.  She noted that a previously adopted warrant article adopted by the town required three quotes for any estimate over $3,000.  She had hoped to receive a quote for Barry Williams who indicated that although not interested in the job he would provide a quote for comparison purposes.  She has still not received that quote.  She has also been contacted by Vermont Hillside and indicated that the Trustees must wait until the budget is adopted, but that they were in the “forefront”.  Patty offered to write a contract for a one year period and an option to renew for a subsequent year for the successful bidder.

Village Cemetery Survey:

Patty offered to develop a matrix that compared the proposals.  Mary noted that she was successful in obtaining a quote from an Acworth surveyor, Lawrence Associates.

Chair of Cemetery Trustees:

Roxanne resigned her position as Chair.  On motion by Patty, voted with Mary Blank abstaining to elect Mary Blank as the chair of the Cemetery Trustees.

String Trimmer:

Mary indicated that the Trustees need to refund Common Trust #1 $242.00 to cover the string trimmer which was incorrectly purchased from that trust.  Possible options would be to sell the string trimmer to either the mowing contractor or the Town Highway Department.  Roxanne indicated that she would try and locate the manual for the trimmer.  

Respectfully Submitted
Patricia A. Little