Adams Purchases Cold Storage Shed for Bellevue
ADAMS, Mass. — The town has purchased a shed for cold storage at Bellevue Cemetery.
Commissioner Bruce Shepley told the Cemetery Commission on Thursday that the new shed for equipment storage is on its way.
"The other one is coming down … and we have allocated $7,500 from the funding that went on the warrant article," Shepley said. "That shed has been ordered it is going to go directly behind the garage that will be getting the renovation."
The town plans to renovate the garage at Bellevue Cemetery and knock down a decrepit shed. This would leave the town with an updated garage but no cold storage.
Shepley said the shed is used and its cost is included in the $120,000 that town meeting allocated from the cemetery fund to renovate the garage.
He did have some concerns that between engineering and actual construction costs the town may be cutting it close with the $120,000 and was unsure if another town meeting approval was needed.
"There is a little fudge factor," he said. "It was an oversight on our part and we are knocking down the cold storage and we need to replace it."
Interim Town Administrator Donna Cesan said currently there is more than $90,000 left for construction and as long as the price is close it should not be an issue.
She added that project engineers EDM have included a $12,500 fee needed to prepare the project and help the town carry it out, which although reasonable, she thinks can be decreased.
"For a small project like this, this is not a bad price and their job is to protect us during the project," Cesan said. "I will talk to them about their fee and see if we can pair that down given that we aren't going to do the retaining wall."
She added that she would also investigate if there is anything else procedurally the commission needs to do to use the funds.
"I will do the investigation and let you know the plan of attack," she said.
The project could go out to bid in October.
In other business, the commission voted to make some changes and update some regulations.
The changes are:
- The cemetery will be open for interments from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 7:30 a.m. to noon (12 p.m.) Saturdays.
- No in-ground planting of trees, shrubs or plants by single graves or lot owners will be permitted.
- Ornaments or plants in appropriate planters or containers are allowed on the foundation or headstone.
These changes were made to reflect changes in weekend internments and dissuade people from placing troublesome plantings or items near the stones.
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