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

ABSENT:                              Shannon Hiltner

OTHERS PRESENT:          Former Commission member Bea Harvey

The meeting was called to order at 3:00 p.m.

The draft October 20, 2022, minutes were presented for approval and the following correction was proposed to the columbaria discussion: "One columbarium is allowed per lot, a maximum of 4 niches per that columbarium.”. The minutes were approved with the correction. The Commission next discussed the budget for next year. They also reported that there have been two burials since the last meeting.

The total burials for the season were two in Memorial Garden, 20 in East Cemetery and four in Deer View, with a combined total of 26. The total lots sold were 11 in Deer View and 2 spaces reserved in Memorial Garden.

The Commission discussed that Commissioner Jack Price installed three shelves in the East Cemetery shed. The vehicular gates in East and Deer View cemeteries have been closed for the season. The gates, which are part of the new installation of fencing from the Spring, have needed some attention. Yesterday, Commissioner Drew Nelson and Commissioner Price installed countersunk receivers for locking posts that secure the closed gates. At that time, they noted that one of the exit gates was sagging due to a rotated mounting bracket on the post and they will readjust and tighten the bracket when weather permits.

The Commission noted that the McCullough lot in East now has cornerstones installed, as requested by Jim and Lucy McCullough and thanks to Commissioners Nelson and Price. At this time, all sold lots have cornerstones installed. 

Next, the Commission discussed that it has been discovered that one lot in Deer View that has cornerstones in Row G, mapped out as lot owner "G", has no evidence of a deed recorded at the Town Clerk's office. Further investigation is required.

The group next discussed funds found in a long-forgotten Addison County gifting record. There is uncertainty whether the sizeable sum was a gift or an endowment and Commissioner Nelson will explore this issue with Town Finance Director Shirley Goodell-Lackey.

The Commission next discussed that a fall cleanup of the grounds at the Memorial Garden has been taken care of by a group of four volunteers. The Commission is very grateful to the daughters of the Tuthill, Carpenter and Painter families for their noble efforts in memory of their family members.

Next, the group discussed that they will propose a new budget item for the fiscal year 2024 budget. This item is a request for an amount of money to pay someone to do monthly weeding as this task does not fall within the job description for the mowing and trimming contract. The maintenance of the Memorial Garden has been sadly neglected over the years. They noted that Stromme Lawn Maintenance, the mowing service for Town cemeteries, has done good job taking care of the cemeteries this year. Commissioner Price will present the budget to the Selectboard at their December 13, 2022 meeting, at 6:15 p.m. 

Commissioner Cameron Clark will take up the flags at all cemeteries when weather cooperates and Commissioner Shannon Hiltner will assist.

Lastly, Commissioner Clark will also take care of transferring burial records for the past year to correspond to accurate map representation. She will be assisted by Commissioner Hiltner and when complete, will meet with the other commissioners to update their maps, as well as the Town Clerk's master map. 

The next meeting date is to be determined.

The meeting adjourned at 4:30 p.m.

Respectfully Submitted,

Hazel Winter, Secretary