Meeting held in the Annex Conference Room at 7878 Williston Road, Williston VT. 

MEMBERS PRESENT:      Jack Price, Hazel Winter, Drew Nelson, and Cameron Clark

ABSENT:                         None

OTHERS PRESENT:         Assistant Town Manager Erin Dickinson and Bea Harvey (former Commissioner)

The meeting was called to order at 2:32 p.m.

There were no public comments.

The draft minutes from the October 17, 2024, meeting were presented. Commissioner Nelson made a motion to approve the minutes, which was seconded by Commissioner Clark. The Commission unanimously approved the minutes as presented.

The Commission reviewed the budget report provided by Treasurer Mary Gratton on October 17, 2024. 

Nelson reported that from October 17, 2024, to the present, there have been 4 interments, 2 possible pending interments, and 0 new lot sales. For the year, interments have been 15 percent casket and 85 percent cremains. All cornerstones for sold lots are in place.

The Commission next discussed that Deer View Cemetery lots 371 and 372 have “D” cornerstones, but there are no related sale records. The Commission suspects that the cornerstones may have been misplaced.  The Commission agreed to sell these last in Phase 1, to allow more time to investigate or for the answer to possibly arise from people coming forward in the next few years.

Price provided an update on the damaged western fence line of East Cemetery. This has not been repaired yet, though the farmer of the abutting property had installed an electric fence to prevent further damage from the cows. Price noted that if repairs are not completed in the next few months, Public Works or a fencing company may assist with the work.  

Price reported on a revision of plot cornerstones in East Cemetery related to an owner’s private sale of seven lots. In the interest of transparency, Price acknowledged that he is a buyer of one of the lots for sale. Since the lots were advertised, it has been discovered that they are not appropriately sized. However, Price and Nelson helped measure and adjust the cornerstones, to remedy the sizing issues.

Price provided an update on tree pruning in Memorial Garden. He and Nelson removed several dead branches, which Public Works later collected.

Price reported that a geocache request from the Boy Scouts had been denied, and the Boy Scout leader acknowledged and understood the decision. Former Commissioner Bea Harvey noted that a geocache had previously been placed in East Cemetery, likely without formal permission, and it is believed to no longer be present.

Clark reported that the Boy Scouts have removed veteran flags from all cemeteries, and the Commission expressed gratitude for their help. She noted that one Boy Scout is working to finalize an accurate list of veterans, a project expected to be completed by Spring 2025. Clark will inventory the number of flags and coordinate with Public Works to create additional flag holders as needed.

Price reported that one of Deer View Cemetery’s gates requires repair and that Public Works has been notified.

The Commission discussed monument cleaning efforts in Chittenden Cemetery and additional work planned for East Cemetery, specifically in Sections 4 and 5. Cleaning will include revisiting previously cleaned monuments in Chittenden as needed before proceeding to the identified sections in East Cemetery. The Commission also considered adding a new plaque to the Winslow monument, as the current inscription has become illegible. They plan to reach out to the Williston Historical Society to explore potential collaboration on this project.

The Commission reviewed projections for the FY 2026 cemetery budget. Nelson made a motion to increase Memorial Garden fees from $600 to $700 to align with actual costs. Commissioner Hazel Winter seconded the motion, and it was unanimously approved.

The Commission discussed proposed updates to the Cemetery Regulations, making additional changes during the meeting. They will continue their review and discussion at the next meeting. Price encouraged members to share any additional suggested edits with Assistant Town Manager Erin Dickinson over the winter.

The Commission’s next meeting will be scheduled for Spring 2025, with the exact date to be determined.

There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 4:07 p.m.

Respectfully Submitted,

Hazel Winter, Secretary