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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMay 10 23 NANTUCKET CEMETERY COMMISSION 2023 JU ?2 M I I: Posted Meeting of May 10,2023,at 3:00 pm DPW Conference Room, 188 Madaket Road,with Zoom Connectivity FINAL AND APPROVED MINUTES Attendance: Commissioners: Frances Karttunen, Scott McIver,Allen Reinhard(Chair), and Lee Saperstein; Charlie Polachi (Zoom) and TaKyra Renner, DPW. Guest: Walter Trusz,Ludlow Memorial Company, LMC (left at 3:37 pm) 1. Call to Order. Allen Reinhard called the meeting to order at 3:00 pm. He reminded participants that the session was being recorded: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f96Kcgl- rl&list=PL49sKgpy7VAhIyX1ozddlbZ3zV8kXFp8M&index=35. A roll-call of attendees showed that a quorum existed. 2. Public and Commissioner Comments. A. With no member of the public present,there were no public comments. B. Allen Reinhard said that he had been called by Tanya Eldridge of 16 West Sankaty Road for information on purchasing a lot at Polpis Cemetery. He has invited her to meet with him at the Cemetery and will report to us if and when she does. C. Allen Reinhard reported also on the inurement of Al Crosby's remains on May 2nd, saying that it was simple but very effective. Frances Karttunen thanked the Commission for helping to make this happen. 3.Approval of Minutes from April 12,2023. Frances Karttunen moved approval of the minutes of the meeting of April 12, 2023, Scott McIver seconded, and the vote to approve was by roll call and was unanimously in favor. 4. Discussion of Conditions at Old North Cemetery and Proposed Work Order Items. The Commission was joined by Walter Trusz, a principal of Ludlow Memorial Co.,LMC,who supervises work that they do on Nantucket. Allen Reinhard started by saying how pleased we are with the work that has been done. There is, however, some needed additional work at Old North Cemetery. First in the discussion was the state of the wooden historical marker for Reuben Chase,which has fallen into disrepair and is difficult to read. According to the text on the sign,the original was placed by the Sons of the American Revolution, an organization that no longer exists on Nantucket. The question of asking the Daughters of the American Revolution was answered by Lee Saperstein's suggestion that the Commission take responsibility for its replacement. Frances Karttunen moved that we file a work order with the DPW for this. As part 1 of that order, she said that the existing sign should be removed and kept safely out of the weather until such time as it can be replaced. Scott McIver seconded the motion and it passed unanimously. [Action: Charlie Polacci to file a work order for the sign's removal, restoration, and return to the cemetery in the same position.] Allen Reinhard reminded the group that it had visited Old North Cemetery on May 20th and noted a few items that still need attention. Generally,the Commission was pleased with the restoration work that has been done. Lee Saperstein summarized the findings. The biggest problem may have resulted from an inadequacy in the contract. LMC only cleaned the stones that they restored and that has led to a very varied state of the stones in the cemetery. Frances Karttunen asked if the DPW was going to hire student interns for the summer who might be tasked with cleaning the stones. The answer was indeterminate but that at this point in time,the DPW did not have any. Walter Trusz added that they had cleaned a few stones that were adjacent to the ones they restored because they were all part of the same family plot. He noted that the D-2 Biologic Solution takes a while to work and often is aided by a rain storm. If there is a heavy crust of lichen it may be better to gently clean that off and then apply the solution. It sometimes takes two or more applications. It was suggested to Charlie Polacci that the DPW might have to finish up the cleaning in Old North; also,that future contracts should include cleaning all stones in a cemetery. Walter Trusz said that he would give us an estimated price per stone to do that so that our request for a bid can have the correct estimated cost. Scott McIver suggested that if our next two cemeteries to have restoration work were Quaker and the Historic Coloured Cemeteries,that they are in good condition and may only need one spray application of the solution. [Action: Charlie Polacci to develop a work order for cleaning the remaining stones at Old North Cemetery.] Unfortunately, one marble stone for"Gibson"that had been cleaned has fallen and broken into several pieces. The consensus, including input from Walter Trusz, was to cut the stone below the inscription and mount the inscribed part in a new supporting structure. The commissioners agreed that this was a good plan. A slate stone was found lying on a piece of plywood in the southern part of the cemetery. Frances Karttunen described it and then submitted a photograph, which is appended. Walter Trusz reported that the Steamship has given him a reservation for his service truck on May 28th and that he will be in Nantucket shortly after the Memorial Day holiday when he can look at these stones. He also mentioned that several "brownstone" stones were delaminating and could use a water-proof treatment such as with an epoxy coating on the top. Scott McIver asked if a stone was badly damaged could it be put down horizontally in a frame that would protect it from mowers. Yes, came the reply but mowing damage could still occur. [Action: Receive Walter Trusz's suggestions for final restoration work at Old North and proceed accordingly.] In chatting about future contracts,Lee Saperstein noted that Article 8, Operating Budgets, of the Annual Town Meeting had a sentence in the final paragraph stating that$70,000 would be transferred from the"Sale of Cemetery Lots"budget and that this implied that the DPW budget now included operating funds for the next one or two contracts. Charlie Polacci said that he would work up an estimated cost for the Quaker Cemetery for presentation at the next meeting. If there is enough money in this year's budget for a second cemetery,he will do the same thing for the Historic Coloured Cemetery. There was a question of the number of stones in the Quaker 2 Cemetery,46 or 52, and he said that he would have an accurate count along with the estimated cost of stone restoration there. He thought that there were only 13 in need of repair. Also,that all stones had been treated with the Biologic Solution several years ago so that one coat might be all that was needed. With the end of this discussion, Walter Trusz left the meeting. 5. Polpis Land Transfer Update. Allen Reinhard reported with regret that there has no progress toward a formal conveyance of the parcels to be swapped at Polpis Cemetery. He hopes that Ken Beaugrand will be able to move the swap to conclusion. 6. Layout of New Lots at Polpis: Work Plan and Date to Install New Lot Markers. Scott McIver noted that all Commissioners are disappointed at the lack of movement on the land swap and,then, suggested that we layout, as soon as practicable,the lot markers for the new lots that are within the bounds of the existing cemetery. Allen Reinhard remembered that the original markers had been installed with the surveying help of Water Company personnel. He asked about the preferred way to do it now. His suggestion was that we do it ourselves with a tape measure,which was agreed upon by Frances Karttunen and Scott McIver. It was noted that there are 124 markers and they must be oriented correctly. Lee Saperstein thought that it would be prudent to file a work order now, with the understanding that we would go out to the cemetery with the DPW personnel. [Action: Charlie Polacci to file a work order for installing corner markers at Polpis Cemetery.] 8. Potential Additional Town Cemetery Land and Long-Range Planning With respect to full-body interments,Allen Reinhard said that only Newtown Cemetery could accommodate them. Lee Saperstein suggested that the earlier GPR surveys found less available land for burials than had been thought. The surveys found graves under the present lane-ways. Coupled with the delay in re-consolidating the four lots that comprise Newtown Cemetery and getting Select Board determination that the entire plot is a cemetery,the conclusion is that we need more land for full-body interments. He has asked the Director of Planning,Andrew Vorce, about potential, additional cemetery sites,to which he replied that he did not know of any but would continue to look for one. Frances Karttunen asked how much land will we need. Lee Saperstein said that the answer to that question would depend upon a market survey and a complete GPR survey of Newtown. For that to happen,the Select Board, as noted,will need to declare all of Newtown a cemetery so that it can be cleared and then surveyed. The amount of unused space at Newtown will help to answer the question on need. Allen Reinhard observed that the real estate matters before the Select Board has tied up Town Counsel and put Newtown low in the list of priorities. He will continue to ask Ken Beaugrand for help with this. Frances Karttunen posed a separate long-range issue and that was how to attract new members to the Commission. She said that she and Barbara White had identified one very interested person. The 3:00 pm meeting time,though, made it impossible for this person to join meetings; indeed, it 3 hindered any young,working person from attending. Although the time had been selected to allow for meetings to be held in the DPW offices, Charlie Polacci said that the time could be moved. Lee Saperstein noted that, as a regulated commission, it might take a few additional steps to expand its size. All agreed to reach out to potential members. 9. Old,New, Other Business and Final Comments. Frances Karttunen observed that State Representative Dylan Fernandes's recent newsletter stated that Nantucket would receive $25,000 for memorial stones for veterans. How is it, she asked, that we have not heard about this grant? We need to talk with whomever it was that initiated it. Cemetery regulations require that all monuments be approved by the Commission. Allen Reinhard said that he would get in touch with Ralph Hardy,the Town's Veteran Services Officer, and with Callie Pearce of the American Legion,to see what he can learn. [Action: Allen Reinhard to call Ralph Hardy and Callie Pearce.] Frances Karttunen reported, also,that Franklin Street neighbors had reported to her their concerns about maintenance around the steps from Franklin Street up to New North Cemetery. The uncleared vegetation around the steps attracts litter,which they have collected. The new extension of fencing has helped but the gaps in the fence by the steps continue to allow for litter. She hopes that,when the DPW mows this cemetery,they will also police the litter. Charlie Polacci said that the Town had a new mowing contractor and he would see what can be arranged. 10. Adjournment. Adjournment came at 4:23 pm by acclamation. Next regular meeting: Wednesday,June 14,2023,at 3:00 pm, in the DPW conference room at 188 Madaket Road. For those who wish to attend virtually,a Zoom link will also be sent to Commissioners. Respectfully submitted: ;Date: Lee W. Saperstein, Secretary Nantucket Cemetery Projects List. • Complete discussed improvements at Old North Cemetery from May 10 meeting. • Cemetery monument restoration project: Ongoing, D-2 treatment of monuments, next steps. • Split rail fence at Polpis Cemetery: waiting for possible land swap agreement to be implemented. • Fencing at the Historic Coloured Cemetery: Commission decision needed. • Spreadsheet Project: Lot#, Lot Owner, Contact info.,Monument and Burial Record, dates, other forms. • Consolidation of lots at Newtown Cemetery with recordable survey: Awaiting action from Town Counsel. 4 ' Y x MMI e, 'a`^ t 4 �, `.' .' �"� T .4.- r :Ili c t j�,�_l'� ' r•�' , s 1 ',' t f X i i a n • _ c1• ',14 S r7y„yfl 1Y:1'A, � �-. 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