Cheshire Cemetery Commission to Be Vacant
CHESHIRE, Mass. — The entire Cemetery Commission have either resigned or do not plan to run for re-election.
The Selectmen accepted two resignation letters Tuesday from Commissioners Josephine Lewis and Neil Baker who wrote that they plan to leave the commission May 7, on election day.
"So we have no members on the Cemetery Department as of May 7," Selectwoman Carol Francesconi said.
The Selectmen believe that the only remaining member Jack Girard does not plan to run in May, although he has until March 19 to return papers.
The board members could not pinpoint a specific reason for the mass exodus but when they voted last year to eliminate insurance for elected officials, they did anticipate that some boards and commissions would vacate.
Even if someone else decides to run for Girard's seat, the Selectmen would have to appoint two new members to finish out the terms of those who have resigned.
The Cemetery Commission oversees all cemetery business from handling burials to hiring seasonal help.
In other business, Town Administrator Mark Webber said has nearly collected all department budget requests and the town will formally start the budget process in the coming weeks.
"Not all of them came in but we can’t start our budget review in the next week or two," he said.
In Highway Superintendent Blair Crane’s report, he said the town received its new loader last week.
"We used it over the weekend extensively ... it works great as designed and it will be a great piece of equipment for years to come," he said.
The Selectmen allocated almost $200,000 from Chapter 90 road funds last year for the purchase.
Tags: cemetery commission, election 2018, resignation,
