Trustees of Trust Funds / Cemetery Trustees / January 5, 2009

Present:

Gerry Plots, Mary Blank, Patty Little, Roxanne MacConnell and Linda Russell were present.

Minutes

Voted unanimously to accept, as written, the minutes of the December 8, 2009 meeting.

Cemetery Trustee

Cemetery Platting

The Trustees received a conceptual design of the new perpetual care section of the Village Cemetery .  Surveyor, Ed Goodrich indicated in his letter to the Trustees that there was a six foot discrepancy in the preliminary design developed by Alan Blank, but that he had attempted to stay true to the intent of the design as possible.  Mary indentified that 113 cremation plots and 62 full burials would be created with the layout.  The Trustees indicated their acceptance of the design.  A mylar of the new section will be prepared by Mr. Goodrich.  It is anticipated that Mr. Goodrich will return in the spring to lay out strategic control points as specified in phase 3 of the project.  Mary indicated that she would be recording the mylar of the Village Cemetery perimeter survey as well as the new perpetual care section.  The Selectmen have approved the Cemetery Trustees request to carry forward the $2,000 reserve in the fund balance for phase 3.

Patty reminded the Trustees that they had previously discussed laying a water line from the Jones property so that cemetery visitors could have water available to water their flowers and plats.  Mary noted that she had identified the language reserving the right to use a well located on the southwesterly portion of the Jones property as well as the right to enter upon the property for the repair, maintenance or replacements of pipes leading from said well.  This project was communicated as a capital improvement project, but no further work has occurred in terms of the CIP project for the town.  It was decided to hold off pursuing this initiative until the CIP project was submitted.  Patty referred to another comment from Mr. Goodrich who indicated that it would be to the benefit of the Cemetery Trustees to lay out the right-of-way to Route 123 to reflect the existing path.  The legal description in the Jones’ deed has the layout crossing over a ledge outcropping.

Village Cemetery Mowing

Mary noted she is attempting to secure 3 quotes for the 2009 cemetery mowing.  The quote from Vermont Hillside has already been received.  She is expecting a quote from Barry Williams and has attempted to secure a quote from Surf ‘N Turf.  The quotes will be submitted to the Selectmen and Budget Committee, but the final selection will be from the Cemetery Trustees.

Preliminary budget

 Mary distributed a preliminary budget which included:

* offsetting revenues: gravestone repairs and cleaning – McCourt Trust $2,500 for 2 years

Mary noted that because of the recent purchase of cemetery plots in the Village Cemetery that the ratio of plots with perpetual care and plots without perpetual care has changed.  The ratio for the Village Cemetery is now 21.3% and $915 in offsetting revenue could be anticipated.  This would leave $5,260 to be raised from taxation as compared to $5,180 the previous year.

Warrant Articles

The Cemetery Trustees reviewed the language for the rescission of Article 16, which requires that heirs of existing plots without perpetual care and who purchased their plot prior to 1975 be required to obtain a Perpetual Care Trust Fund for said plot in an amount not less than $150.00.  As discussed previously by the Trustees, the collection of the perpetual care fee, which essentially provides no benefit in terms of the perpetual maintenance of the cemetery plot is unreasonable to collect and is an undue burden to Marlow residents.  It was noted that regardless of whether a plot owner has perpetual care on their cemetery plot, the plot is maintained by the Town.  Voted unanimously to submit a warrant article that would rescind the present language in Article 16. 

Mary inquired whether the Cemetery Trustees desired to submit another Warrant Article which would incorporate the regulations of the West Yard Cemetery into the Cemetery Regulations.  Voted unanimously to reflect the regulations for the West Yard Cemetery as an addendum and not utilize the warrant process for their adoption.

Cemetery Trustee Term of Office

Mary noted that the filing period for declarations of candidacy for Cemetery Trustee would end January 30^th. Both the term of Geraldine Plotts and Roxanne MacConnell will expire in 2009.  Both agreed to file for the office.  Mary said she would call Tony Davis about filing for Cemetery Sexton.

Next meeting was scheduled for February 2, 2009.

Trustees of Trust Funds

 Preliminary Budget

Mary presented a preliminary budget which would reflect a $75.00 increase from the previous year.

Mary indicated that she was not prepared to review the final accounting for the year because she was waiting for a report from the Administrative Assistant.

Ambulance Reimbursement

Voted unanimously to approve a $200.00 transfer from the ambulance and paramedic expendable trust for the payment of an invoice from DiLuzio Ambulance.

Certificates of Deposit

Mary noted that she had authorized a 30 day rollover in the certificate of deposit from the conservation and ambulance and paramedic expendable trust at .23% interest rate.  Mary also authorized a 90 day rollover in the certificate of deposit for the heavy highway equipment, Russell Perkins library, ambulance, fire truck and police cruiser trusts at a 1.12% interest rate.

Trustee of Trust Funds Term of Office

Mary noted that her term will expire in 2009.  At the encouragement of both the Cemetery Trustees and the Trustees of Trust Funds, Mary indicated that she would be willing to file her declaration.

At 5:22 PM the meeting adjourned.

Respectfully submitted,
Patricia A. Little
Secretary

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