Thomaston Cemetery Trustees Set Priorities, Plan Workshop on Records

The Thomaston Cemetery Board of Trustees approved its August and September minutes, reviewed project updates, and settled on four priorities for the coming year: buildings (including the green building and veteran flag holders), gravestone repair, signage, and cemetery records. Trustees also discussed a database and paperwork overhaul with the town office, planned a public workshop on policies and procedures, and agreed to revisit budget questions once more clarity on available funds is available.

Key points

• The board unanimously approved the August 27 and September 1 minutes, with one trustee noting a correction about monument work.
• Trustees agreed on four priorities: buildings (green building and veteran flag holders), gravestone repair, signage, and cemetery records.
• A discussion about a trustee showing a prospective buyer grave sites led to agreement that requests should be funneled through the sexton or assistant sexton, and that written policies and procedures are needed.
• The board reviewed the September 1, 2022 workshop priority list and noted several items already accomplished, including signage and cemetery records.
• Trustees discussed the Fall Festival stone cleaning on October 24 at 10 a.m., with Peggy finishing stone histories and Sue following up with the organizer.
• The board discussed identifying unrecorded veterans in the cemetery, with suggestions to cross-reference the Historical Society, Togus, and Legion honor rolls.

Next steps

• Sue will follow up with the Fall Festival organizer on information format and needs, copying the chair.
• Sue will compile a year-by-year document of full-body and cremains burials from work orders and the database for the next meeting.
• The chair will schedule a public workshop with town office staff on cemetery policies and procedures.
• The chair will seek clarity on the $11,000 carryover and where it belongs in the budget.
• A trustee will photograph the Legion honor roll for name cross-referencing.
• The board will plan a GIS mapping discussion for November, with the November meeting moved to the 19th.

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