Town of Chichester, NH
Cemetery Trustees' meeting
September 19, 2022 Ruth Hammen, Fred Shaw and Brenda Boswak, Cemetery Trustees, met at 9:15 a.m. at the Historical Society building.
Old Business
Our request for transfer of funds from the Cemetery Capital Reserve Fund was approved by the Selectmen, enabling us to move forward with gravestone restorations and pay for the ground penetrating radar service.The gravestone for Dr. Amasa Kelley has been professionally and beautifully restored by Don Cotnoir, New Hampshire Monuments. He is in the process of restoring a monument and gravestone in Batchelder Cemetery and two gravestones in Leavitt Cemetery and one monument in Knowlton-Edgerly Cemetery and one gravestone in Pineground Cemetery. We are very pleased with his expert workmanship and prompt communication with us. No update from Perry Bros. Monuments on the five sets of cornerstones ordered in July. Brenda will follow up on this.The large limb that came down in The Burying Yard was cleaned up and removed by Hodges Maintenance. Fortunately, no gravestones were damaged. Limbs frequently fall into Brown Cemetery. Dave Colbert has volunteered to remove some dead trees in True Cemetery. Tree removal needs to be a priority. Fred suggested requesting a Tree Budget for 2023.
In True Cemetery we placed fieldstones at the spots of probable graves indicated by ground penetrating radar. We also cleaned and repositioned other gravestones. We very much appreciate the help from Dave Colbert who came along side and helped us move a large gravestone into its upright position.
New business
Brenda is updating the new website for Cemetery Trustees, www.chicemcom.org with photos of damaged gravestones before and after restoration. The website will continue to feature gravestones of influential, Chichester residents.
Wreaths Across America Day is December 17, 2022, and we are planning to participate in the event again this year. Brenda will be posting the information on the Cemetery Trustees’ website, Chichester town website and Fred will post on social media. We discussed placing the wreath holders at the time we remove the Veterans’ flags, after November 11, 2022. We plan to invite as many volunteers as possible to help with this job.
A family member representing the Hook family has contacted Ruthie to request the town assume the management of Hook Cemetery. Ruthie will begin the paperwork necessary to accomplish this request. A town warrant article is required.
Fred will create a budget spreadsheet for us to have a current balance of our 2022 budget expenses to enable us to compare with town records.
Fred has scheduled a meeting with the Trustees of the Trust Funds and the Cemetery Trustees for September 26, 2022. We have discussed the possible option of reducing the time-consuming work required of maintaining many, many separate funds by investigating any options we may have to create and use from a singular fund.
Meeting adjourned at 12:00 p.m
Respectfully submitted, Brenda Boswak, Cemetery Trustee, Secretary