February 2, 2026
Cemetery Trustees’
Meeting Minutes
The Cemetery Trustees, Ruth Hammen and Brenda Boswak met on February 2, 2026 @ 10:00 a.m. at the Historical Society building. Fred was unable to attend.
OLD BUSINESS
Brenda met with Joseph Beachy, Extol Tree Care, LLC on January 27, 2026, to walk through the cemeteries that need tree removal. Joseph will submit a written estimate, as requested by the Selectmen and Budget Committee, to accompany the Selectmen’s proposed warrant article for money for cemetery tree removal, at 2026 town meeting.
The latest town budget printout indicated that the Cemetery Trustee General Expense line had been overspent by $2400. In fact, the Cemetery Trustees had submitted a request to the Town Administrator on April 7, 2025, requesting the Selectmen to authorize the withdrawal of these funds from the Cemetery Capital Reserve to pay this invoice. January 13, 2026, we submitted a second request to the Selectmen to authorize that withdrawal.
Brenda contacted Curtis Hermann, Sons of the American Revolution group for assistance with a ceremony recognizing a Revolutionary War veteran’s gravesite, Abraham Stanyan. We are waiting for him to confirm a date to meet with us.
NEW BUSINESS
Ruth has received calls requesting information and assistance with purchasing a ‘Right to Inter’ contract. She will contact the people in the spring to complete that process.
Fred reported that the Town Treasurer has verified the town received and deposited a check from Madeline Kilmister for a cemetery lot. The portion of the check designated for cornerstones has been paid but the town never sent the remainder to the Trustees of the Trust to establish the perpetual care trust. The Town Treasurer has now submitted a check from the town to the Trustees of the Trust to establish the trust for Kilmister.
Garry Kalajian, Ararat Forge, met with us to present his design idea to create two iron gates at Kaime Cemetery. Garry will submit an estimate as soon as possible and meet with us again in March.
We discussed the need for repairs to the Batchelder Cemetery gate. Brenda will contact Don Cotnoir about a granite post for this cemetery gate.
A list of gravestones needing restoration has been submitted to Don Cotnoir, NH Monuments. He will provide a written estimate. We prioritized gravestones at Kaime Cemetery, Pineground Cemetery and Edmunds-Stanyan Cemetery.
The Cemetery Trustees submitted a 2025 year end report to the Town Administrator for inclusion in the 2025 Town Report.
Brenda will plan to attend the Selectmen Department Heads meeting on February 3, 2026.
The meeting was adjourned at 11:58 a.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Brenda Boswak, Cemetery Trustee, Secretary