Adams Taking Next Steps With Bellevue Cemetery Shed
The commissioners last week also endorsed the formation of a volunteer group to fundraise and restore stones at Maple Street Cemetery.
Town Administrator Tony Mazzucco requested the commissioners on Thursday plan a walk-through of the cemetery.
"That way we can all be on the same page, look and figure out where we would want to put it," Mazzucco said. "We can even bring stakes and string it out to get a better feel."
Town meeting voted to allow the use of $125,000 from the Cemetery Investment Fund to install a metal prefabricated building to store Department of Public Works equipment.
Mazzucco said he is looking at initial costs but also asked the building inspector to make a list of what the existing cement building needs.
He said it would need new garage doors, trim, insulation and the town would have to hire someone to investigate the roof.
"It is not a minor list where we could just throw a new coat of paint on it," he said.
the town will hire an engineering firm to create bid-ready documents for the building
"We invest the money, we get the document and we go out to bid and if the lowest bid comes in $185,000, maybe we look at the other building and see if it would be less to make some repairs to get a few more years out of it," Mazzucco said.
He said the bid documents will be valid for some time and that there is no rush.
Mazzucco still suggested adding on a clivus, or composting, toilet instead of installing a regular bathroom inside the building because then it would have to be Americans with Disabilities Act compliant – this would most likely raise the price.
With an added-on clivus unit, the public could use the bathroom. The commissioners made it clear they do not want the public in the building.
Commissioner James Tayler said the building does need water.
"My thinking is if you are working with the dead, the people need to wash their hands," he said. "I just think they should have a place to wash your hands. They are digging graves."
Mazzucco said the building would be connected to water but sewer would be a different issue. He said they could add on a full bathroom to the bids just so they could see the cost.
In other business, the Cemetery Commission gave Commissioner Bruce Shepley its blessing to go forward with the Maple Street Cemetery Restoration Project
"It is a very slow process but I have met with the select board and did find interest from volunteers," he said. "I am just looking for your blessing."
Shepley has been working with a North Adams group who are restoring Hill Side Cemetery to help start up an Adams effort to restore Maple Street Cemetery.
He is gathering maps and plans to divide up the cemetery into work areas.
The group will have no connection with the town or commission, Shepley said, and plans to do its own fundraising to purchase equipment and materials.
Tags: bellevue cemetery, cemetery commission, maple street cemetery,
