ARTICLE 10
Board of Cemetery Commissioners
10.1 The Board of Cemetery Commissioners shall consist of three members elected by ballot at the annual town election for a term of three years. One member shall be elected in each year. No sooner than five years from the date of passage of that certain special act entitled “HOME RULE PETITION FOR BELMONT, AN ACT TO REORGANIZE THE PUBLIC WORKS FUNCTIONS IN THE TOWN OF BELMONT”, the Board of Selectmen may request Town Meeting to convert the Board of Cemetery Commissioners to an appointive body. Upon a two-thirds vote of Town Meeting, the Board of Selectmen shall establish and appoint a three member Board of Cemetery Commissioners, consisting of the incumbent elected members for the duration of their term. Should an incumbent member choose not to serve in an appointive capacity, the Board of Selectmen shall appoint
a new commissioner to fill the remainder of that term. Upon the expiration of the initial terms of appointment, the Board of Selectmen shall appoint commissioners in a manner consistent with Article 3 of the General By-Laws.
10.2 The Board of Cemetery Commissioners shall have the following duties and responsibilities:
10.2.1 To educate the Board of Selectmen, town administration and the citizens of Belmont regarding the need for burial space and cemetery services;
10.2.2 To advocate on behalf of the citizens of Belmont for burial space and cemetery services, including expansion, maintenance, and beautification of existing facilities;
10.2.3 To establish policies and regulations relating to the cemetery including, but not limited to, the terms and conditions of burial rights, the prices for sale of lots and graves and other services and the erection of monuments and ornamentation;
10.2.4 To identify and advocate for major capital and facility improvements, including expansion, to meet the long-term needs of the cemetery system and to work cooperatively with the Town’s staff to develop an appropriate financing plan for such improvements;
10.2.5 To develop an appropriate marketing strategy to sell cemetery lots as required to meet financial requirements of cemetery needs;
10.2.6 To certify and recommend for Town Meeting appropriation, the amount and use of proceeds from the sale of cemetery lots paid into the town treasury for reimbursement to the Town for the cost of the land, its care, improvement and embellishment, or the enlargement of the cemetery;
10.2.7 To report annually, in cooperation with the Director of Public Works and the Town Treasurer, on the status of the Perpetual Care Fund and on progress in implementing the capital improvement plan. In cooperation with the Town Accountant, to certify and recommend for Town Meeting appropriation the amount of Perpetual Care Interest Income to offset the cost of routine cemetery maintenance; and
10.2.8 To assume jurisdiction and representation of applicable provisions of that certain Memorandum of Agreement dated November 22, 1999, relating to the use of land in Belmont formerly owned by McLean Hospital, including without limitation, Attachment B2 - Conservation Restriction, Attachment E - Land Use and Management Plan and Attachment K - Cemetery Agreement.
Article 10 amended at April 28, 2003, Annual Town Meeting. Approved by Attorney General Tom Reilly on October 16, 2003.
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