Town officials on Tuesday approved a contract to clean up cemeteries in New Canaan.
The Board of Selectmen approved a $7,650 contract with a local company for maintenance at nine cemeteries in town.
The cemeteries, which are spread throughout town, will undergo a spring and fall cleanup and then two summer mowings, according to Public Works Director Tiger Mann.
“Leaves, branches, and further debris removal,” Mann said at the May 16 selectmen meeting.
Selectmen Kathleen Corbet and Nick Williams, and First Selectman Kevin Moynihan, voted 3-0 in favor of the contract with Rosati Landscaping.
There are 27 cemeteries in New Canaan, Mann said.
“The nine that are listed here are the ones that are basically accessible for the public and that don’t have a caregiver,” he said.
In the past, the Highway Department has been responsible for a majority of the cemeteries’ upkeep, Mann said.
“We’ve been working with Rosati on a one-off basis as far as to, ‘Come in and clean up this cemetery and then clean that cemetery,’ and all those contracts that’ve been under $10,000,” he said.
According to Mann, the town has received a “Neglected Cemetery” grant for $5,000 toward the maintenance.
Corbet objected to the language used to describe the funding.
“It sounds terrible,” she said. “I would be more on the side of just ‘cemetery maintenance’ versus ‘neglected cemetery maintenance’ going forward. It’s a good project.”
Mann noted that “Neglected Cemetery” is the formal name of the grant.
Williams asked whether the cleanup work will take place before Memorial Day.
Each year, New Canaan’s local VFW Post 653 places new flags at the graves of fallen soldiers in their honor for Memorial Day. Volunteers are welcome to help in the effort from 8 to 10 a.m. on Saturday, May 20, meeting at Lakeview Cemetery (details here).
Regarding the contract, the town reached out to three companies. Of the three contractors that were approached, only Rosati responded with an estimate, Mann said.
Good information Ambereen.
Can you please provide us with the list of the 9 cemeteries/their locations that have been approved for regular maintenance and clean-up?
Thank you.
Per the DPW, these are the cemeteries in question (and you can find a map here):
Talmadge Smith Cemetery, Old Stamford Rd
Waterbury Cemetery, Jelliff Mill Road
Parade Ground Cemetery, Parade Hill Road
Seeley Crissey Cemetery, Old Stamford Rd
Young Burial Ground, Ponus Ridge Road
Crissey Cemetery, Ponus Ridge Road
Silvermine Cemetery, Silvermine Road
Rock School District Cemetery, Canoe Hill Rd
Brookside Road Cemetery, Brookside Road
Mike,
Thank you for going the extra mile to provide us with the names and map locations of these cemeteries. Appreciate your research.
Betty
All thanks are owed to DPW Director Tiger Mann, I’m just the messenger.
It would be important to know the cemetery’s that are listed for cleanup and their locations.
Stones are being removed, and grass is almost waist high at the Maple Street Cemetery, one of our most historic reminders of the shoemaking trade in early New Canaan. Cited by the Planning & Zoning Commission as important and worthy of protecting, this burial ground is the resting place of Jonathan Ayres, Revolutionary War Soldier who’s grave is still visible. Founded in 1825 by Col. Ezra Benedict, it is located between South Ave. and Park Street. The entrance, available to the public between 6AM and 9PM daily, is through The Vue. There is signage which provides further information for visitors. Let’s hope this special burial ground can be included in the ‘maintenance list” just approved by the Selectmen.
We understand it is ‘no mow May’ on the corner of Weed and Elm. If the same lawn service is covering the Maple Street Cemetery, wait until early June and I am sure the grass will be cut then.