KENT—A special town meeting has been scheduled for Feb. 27 at 7 p.m. to consider an ordinance for a town cemetery committee.
The ordinance would transfer care of six cemeteries—at Bulls Bridge, the Congregational Church, Flanders, Good Hill, Skiff Mountain and St. Andrew’s Church—from the Kent Cemetery Association to the municipality.
The meeting will be held at town hall, 41 Kent Green Blvd. Qualified voters and those who pay at least $1,000 in taxes are eligible to vote.
The ordinance provides for the formation of a five-member volunteer committee, along with two alternates. Appointments to staggered terms that range from six to two-year terms will be made by the Board of Selectmen.
The town will employ a sexton, and possibly an assistant sexton, to facilitate day-to-day operations, burials and facility maintenance. Contractors will be hired as required.
The committee will have a budget but will not be empowered to acquire or sell property or to obligate the town for expenditures beyond that sum. It will be authorized to accept funds from the Kent Cemetery Association, which will be dissolved after care of the cemeteries is successfully transferred to the town.
The selectmen would have the ultimate say in circumstances where there is a dispute between the committee and the selectmen, but the Cemetery Committee will be responsible for establishing its bylaws and regulations for the operations and administration of the cemeteries.
