This photo shows the Union Cemetery after the 1955 flood. This image is from http://electronicvalley.org/derby/flood/index.html
SEYMOUR — Town government has decided to take ownership of one of Seymour’s oldest cemeteries.
During its meeting last month, the Board of Selectmen unanimously voted in favor of transferring ownership of Union Cemetery to the town itself.
“The Union Cemetery Association wanted the cemetery to pass to a responsible party, because of concerns the group managing it was growing older,” said Town Attorney Richard Buturla. “It is an old, historic cemetery that the town has used.”
The board initially asked Buturla to reach out to the Trinity Cemetery Association to see if they’d be interested in taking over Union Cemetery.
“They do not have an interest in doing that, but would be willing to, on a fee basis, to handle interments and other matters for the town if the town took it over,” Buturla said.
Buturla said there is an annuity with about $40,000 in it which the town can use to maintain the cemetery for some time. Members of the cemetery association told Buturla it costs roughly $7,000 a year for maintenance, insurance and a small stipend for the cemetery administrator.
Selectman Al Bruno said if the town didn’t take ownership, the cemetery would likely fall into disrepair.
“If we can’t maintain the cemetery, it’s not going to look great, and it will reflect badly on our town,” said Bruno. “This is a cemetery in our community and it’s something we’ll have to work with and take over. I don’t know what other plan there is. The $7,000 should last us about seven years, and then we’ll have to pay for maintenance.”
Selectman Pat Lombardi suggested costs could be less if the town’s Public Works Department took over maintenance. He said the town could purchase another mower and perhaps hire additional seasonal workers to help.
Selectman Rob Van Egghen agreed the town won’t let the cemetery fall apart.
“Just because we take it on, doesn’t mean we aren’t looking for someone else to maintain it,” he said.”But in the meantime, it will not fall into disrepair. We’ll maintain it, we’ll keep it looking good and still actively look for someone to take over (upkeep)…Public Works could maintain so money would last longer.”
Selectman Trisha Danka said the board can monitor how much in extra costs the town may incur with the new undertaking, and can add money accordingly into the annual Public Works budget.
Buturla said he wasn’t able to glean much information about the cemetery located on Derby Avenue, other than it was established in 1842, there was only one burial there in 2019 and there’s a hand-drawn map showing the plots, but it’s unclear how many available plots remain.
Buturla will work with the association members in drafting up an agreement to transfer all documents and ownership to the town.
