Municipal officials are applying for a $5,000 grant to help pay for the cleanup and maintenance of neglected cemeteries in New Canaan.
The deadline for the state’s 2025 Neglected Cemetery Account Grant Program is Feb. 13. The town two years ago received $2,000 under the program, and $5,000 last year, officials said at the Board of Selectmen’s most recent meeting.
The grant would be used at nine cemeteries in New Canaan, according to Joe Zagarenski, senior engineer in the Department of Public Works.
“It would just basically be mowing and bushes and clearing out briars,” he said during the selectmen’s Jan. 28 meeting, held at Town Hall and via videoconference.
First Selectman Dionna Carlson and Selectmen Steve Karl and Amy Murphy Carroll voted 3-0 in favor of authorizing the first selectman to apply for and receive the grant.
“There’s a lot of volunteers involved in keeping some of this stuff up too, so it’s always a good time to try to recognize what they’re doing, because keeping these things looking nice is important,” Karl said.
He added, “It’s a lot of work.”
Public Works Director Tiger Mann said there various organizations help with the effort, including the Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Daughters of the American Revolution and New Canaan Beautification League.
“We are very thankful for everyone that helps us out,” he said.
Two years ago, New Canaan High School student Leo Mikkola-Patel led an effort to improve maintenance of small cemeteries in town. He received support from Mann and others at Town Hall, and later was encouraged following presentations to the Board of Finance and Town Council.