City of Portsmouth, New Hampshire Cemetery Committee, 22 Sep 2022

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From YouTube: 9.22.2022 Cemetery Committee

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9.22.2022 Cemetery Committee

A

Yeah, you can yep cool, we. We are a short one here for aquarium, but if duncan comes we'll have one so.

B

um All right we're starting our meeting and can we do a roll call, starting with michael.

A

Present ation present carrie rubenstein present dd forte susan starry, don rogers and present okay.

B

um I'm going to ask suzanne this question because we may not have to go through.

B

um The capital improvement slides again, but we could maybe just to.

B

Refresh our memory, but I want to thank um donald, his son james, has come to two of.

B

Our cleanings and he's one our headstone cleanings and he's just a little cleaner.

B

So and I and the first time I know he was there sort of by mistake, but stayed and.

B

The second time he came on his own, so it was really nice to see him again he's our.

B

Youngest volunteer, I told him I'd, write him a letter, so he can claim the time at school for.

B

um National honor society- oh whatever, but I mean don't they have to volunteer too in the community.

B

And all of that, so maybe we should start looking. We can go through the slides, real, quick. It's one.

B

Under there, I think it says cip presentation, no there's three of them. There yep hang on.

A

Hang on powerpoints to the left.

B

That's the one yeah yeah, oh no! This is a broken ones. We can okay, it's fine too. We can.

B

Go through the broken windows, oh we should. I was gonna say uh you want this one yeah.

C

Okay, oh yeah, oh side by side. Okay, I don't know what she did all right does that work.

B

No there's about six or seven slides on that one there on this one yeah, that's the one we.

B

Used last time I told kevin, I would come in and learn how to do this yeah and I'm not.

C

Sure how she set them up, you want to just share it or uh for yeah, I'm not sure which.

C

I'm not sure where she put them pictures right, yeah, okay, um that one, I think.

A

People to know.

B

um Because I really think in this uh particular um committee, pitches are worth way more than.

B

Verbal descriptions, so I have to put the effort in so we talked about um the straightening and.

B

Repairing headstones, I gotta, I got a prize today. The gentleman that called from new hampshire.

B

Monuments because he saw the ad that I'll be in the article in the newspaper, he told me to use d2.

B

um Put the pieces of the headstone back together again using fiber threads.

B

And the latest epoxy would be eight hundred dollars.

B

Does that sound unreasonable to you, michael for 14., for one headstone, one headstone, oh wow,.

B

Yeah, so I said I we bring him before the community and thanked him, and that was it.

B

um I do have two more people coming and I know that they're not eight hundred dollars.

B

uh A headstone so again that could be one of those projects that we could fundraise.

B

But that's one of the things that we could ask for in our list on our cip, then the next one is.

B

um Monuments to get something like that fixed is probably impossible.

B

um Because, usually they want the broken pieces and I haven't found any broken pieces down there. But.

B

They could be in the bushes on this far side. No, no. This is something all right and next one I can.

B

Come sit over there if you need to. um This is what we're waiting for the um twenty thousand dollars.

B

And hopefully, at the end of the month we will know from the state moose plate grant if we get it.

B

Then the next is pleasant street or is yeah. That's uh union behind union. That's the original sea wall.

B

That's there, oh, I gotcha and that's the what's remains of the tomb that was there, which could.

B

Go on the list too, to rebuild the tomb. All the bricks are there uh on the floor of north no fun.

C

Do you want the next one yeah, please sorry, uh that's the second half that never had a retaining.

B

Wall or sea wall, because that was all the end, so that's part two of um pickering's estimate that.

B

They gave us to repair the first half and this we could ask for our money from uh the moose plate.

B

For next year, so that's the potential because it's environmental and and that's what they concentrate.

B

On so that's sort of taken care of for now, then the next one would be. Oh, that's just the same. One.

B

um Well, that's I was showing that that has been removed, the paint so we're next one.

B

This is cotton cemetery um again we're only asking people next year, volunteers to do the.

B

400Th project, where 400 headstones in the 400th and this winter we can plan out. Do we want to do.

B

It in you know four saturdays in a row or do we want to try to get a big group and do it in one.

B

Saturday or two, but that's the commitment to the 400th that we have so that's in the pipeline next.

B

And that would not include straightening or anything so this I actually had two people this.

B

Week that I spoke to this is in union, and this is about replacing the wrought iron, because this.

B

Union was actually designed to have all that wrought iron and they sold the.

B

Within each section is a family plot and they sold them like that. So dee happened.

B

To be there, so a gentleman from platinum fence in hampton is came down. We talked to him about.

B

I mean it's a it's a huge project, so right now he's going to give us estimates on what it would.

B

Cost just to replace wrought iron, fencing the the rods and how many posts need to be straightened.

B

uh And there are three or four grant posts that are broken, so he's going to concentrate on that.

B

And give us a price to, let us give us a beginning point on what it would require cost and then the.

B

Part again, this will be divided up more than likely because there is wrought iron, fencing and.

B

um A gate and a really and a couple gates are missing. So if we have pitches they might even.

B

Be able to be recreated but that's down the line so we're going to start or he's giving us.

B

The starting point- and then I also spoke to peter hackney, who is the town blacksmith, another company.

B

Did this, this is a company out of newburyport. They actually dismantled the all the fencing and the.

B

Gate and everything and did the new high-tech restoration which is stripping it and then.

B

um What it, what do you call electrolysis, not a well something like that.

B

um You know you bathe it and make it. You know highly uh cemented on or you know attached.

B

And then they replaced it uh did that and then actually bought brought everything back. That's.

B

Extremely expensive, so I haven't contacted them, but peter hackney is very interested and he is.

B

Going to go through the cemetery, both cemeteries, because there's a few wrought iron plots over in.

B

North and he's going to get back and he's going to break it out. According to various.

B

Little projects so again by the looks of it I mean this will be a step project but we'll at.

B

Least, have some place to start for prices and to approach people for fundraising next.

B

um That's just the look to show I mean when this is redone. Just we agreed with the fence.

B

People and peter hackney just um cleaning the headstones just with d2, not straightening and.

B

Then we're fixing them putting up the rails again will make like a huge difference in this. Just.

B

Alone and the others would be smaller, you know not nitpicky, but just that will really perk up.

B

The cemetery, so next, please, oh, and that was the gate I was talking about uh and then we also have.

B

Old hall cemetery, which is more a lot of manual things to do in there cutting down cleaning up.

B

Which is certainly doable, and I I don't know that. How much money would even take us if we wanted to.

B

Hire a tree company to come in and cut the trees and get the boy scouts to clean up, which I will.

B

Also say at this point I have reached out to daniel webster, counselor and emails have been.

B

Sent to the two boy scout troops that are here in portsmouth um detailing what we're doing and would.

B

They be interested in helping us and that somebody would come and give them a little presentation if.

B

The troops are interested in it, so hopefully we'll hear back from them pretty soon. So next, oh that's.

B

Still, hall cemetery: that's where the five sea captains are buried along with some other sailors.

B

Who were lost at sea? um The fence is a non-issue right now because we don't know who owns it. So.

B

Won't even be part of not for the cip anyway, so next.

B

um This is the um point of grace and peter did peter rice contact you suzanne this week.

B

He wanted to know he thought we had left it at the last meeting that we wanted to go. I.

B

Mean he was agreeable to do this. You know support this, that we wanted to go ahead.

B

And um the report for the through the testing to do the testing, but I I didn't know if that meant.

B

um We should just request, request that and ask for that amount of money and put it in this. The 40.

B

000, cip or we were going to go with- let's make a list of all of this.

B

Of all the projects that we can put money to and just ask like for an increase of 40 or 80.

B

000 and we'll this is what we will use it on yeah. I my sick.

C

What would be the easiest way.

C

I think having the point of grave separate would be easier because that's such a big.

C

One and it's fairly well defined in the sense that we already at least have a ballpark figure.

C

That'd be easy to do one you know on that uh sheet, where you fill it out. Here's the request.

C

And then you've got the attachment and you know we'll kind of know what to do with that right.

C

um And because it's preliminary work to actually being able to repair the wall or decide, what's the.

C

Best repair of the wall, so I would be inclined to do that one separate and then maybe these.

C

Other ones that I was just making the the notes, you know- were parents, training of headstones.

C

And union and north wrought iron, fencing at union old halls cemetery clean up tree, cutting.

C

Those kind of items might be better grouped because it's we're kind of looking at this in.

C

Like fifty thousand dollar rough, roughly chunks so- um and we know that you know, I would expect.

C

When public works puts its uh its own element sheets together, initially they're gonna put.

C

In the the 40, probably that was in the cip from last year, 44 to 40. um and so that'll probably be.

C

Their starting point, and then, if you have coming out of this committee, two separate requests. One.

C

Specific because you've got good numbers on the western and samson quote for the preliminary work.

C

um And maybe it's even like preliminary um geotechnical plus some design seems too much.

C

About preliminary engineering right, maybe just call it preliminary engineering and and just put.

C

It as that element, it might be easier as we're going through right to kind of really focus on.

C

That and decide whether that gets the city council, ultimately deciding I'm thinking. Maybe two one for.

C

The big one for pointed graves and one for these other ones that are kind of smaller in pieces.

C

But total up to a big number right that makes sense, yeah gallery view, so we see who else is.

A

On the right above city that little grid that's down.

A

Yep yeah there we go thanks: yep nope, that's good! You can move her. I think I mean if you wanna,.

C

Yeah again, you can drag, I think, yeah there we go uh down and you can make her smaller too.

C

You're going to teach me a lot at the end of the day, I was just.

B

Gonna say: should you be sitting over there and a lot of time on zoom? Oh.

B

Well, you're gonna have to give us a little okay, a little trick. Thank you here we go. Thank you.

B

Okay, so we can move on from this. There are only a couple more anyway, so okay, next one yeah, please.

C

Would only be step, one there's two parts to the project so yeah. Next, oh- and this was one.

B

um Again that we could put up there, I don't know, I mean after seeing the the gateway into.

B

Union and you look at this, it seems like the poor cousin that it probably eventually not necessary.

B

You know: have the polls straightened up, have the um uh the gate, the gate restored? You know.

B

Restored period so- and maybe I don't know, I guess if we would want the stones going in re-leveled or.

B

Something but definitely maybe the presentation of the gate. I don't know it's a possibility, so it's.

A

Hard to get in through that well at least oiled anyway, so it's like wd-40, it's been much smaller.

A

Those days and I would say, and I would think easily this would be a two or three thousand.

B

Dollar job, probably so it's not a real expensive one, but we could. I don't know what are the rest of.

B

You well are we trying to prioritize, obviously, no we're trying to figure out what kind of money we.

B

Need to yeah and how it go, how to go about asking for more additional cip money, but also going.

B

Forward we're going to have to all right. I would like to see us do some serious fundraising. So all.

B

The projects that we can put a number to, then we can ask a doctor adopt a project, so this would be.

B

A smaller project- and it would be nice to have it done. I mean that that's my thought process. I'm not.

B

Suggesting anyone over the other just putting down in front of us, you know, projects that are doable.

B

If the community thinks you know, they're worthwhile, asking people funds for.

B

B

We're gonna stay away from this.

B

Until michael and peter rice decide who owns what so we can go on from that and then the city does.

B

Own the wall- that's here and goes around the back, so there's actually two projects there there's the.

B

um Repointing of the wall and in some sections actually rebuilding the wall and then the section.

B

Where I don't suzanne, I don't know if I have beyond this a picture of how yeah, I think you will.

B

Yeah uh yeah and then that's where there is no wall back there. That's michael's old playground.

B

Yeah and then um I well, you can see how how many trees there are down in the back.

B

But it's not so much the trees, there's a lot of brush and everything down in.

B

There that needs to be cleaned out. Well, how would a fire affect the cemeteries.

A

Fire yeah like if a brush fire started and came up through it, would it it would be an improvement.

A

Well, no, I mean it wouldn't affect the headstones and stuff, but I don't think so. Even the really.

B

Old ones like I can't see that it would no okay well, unless the tree falls on fire falls on it.

D

And well, I know, but I didn't want to assume that so so that's also and again, I have no idea again.

B

The the clearing out and everything we might be able to get a tree company to volunteer there.

B

Services and then definitely have to find a mace, some masons, who might be interested in.

B

Bidding or giving us estimates on what it would cost to fix and repair the wall. It was nice, it.

A

Was done a lot, it would look very nice if it was done. I don't think it's a high priority.

B

No, I don't but again the the point for fundraising is to get these together and.

B

See what no, no, I know is everybody going yeah I didn't um yeah. So that's the list.

B

And suzanne so nicely just typed it all up what I was told, the tomb or receiving to him.

A

George ward negotiated with probably bob violet, oh yeah, for 99-year lease to use.

A

That building for one dollar a year, provided he took care of the building.

A

I don't know if any paper would exist, I can search for it. We can always find out. What's you know in.

C

The clerk's office we've gone back on the 1940s or 50s. Okay, the ward is what I'm looking for.

C

George b ward, hey yep, mayor violet, I remember him um and and but what about the rest of the other.

B

Is that the building and the tombs just the wooden structure, she goes.

A

Back three slides: you know what yeah the yellow green doors or yeah.

B

So, are they still undecided between you and the city about not you personally, but.

B

Who owns that wall right there with the tombs inside of it? The city definitely does. Okay, all.

B

Right, so we can also put that on the list to those doors um yeah. If we go back a couple, I think yeah.

A

I don't know what's living in here, but you can see that hole in the green door that this.

B

And there's a pretty good gap under the metal door too yeah so leaks like a sieve.

B

So we can there's no one in there yeah we'll cost out the just the facade you know get it fixed. So.

B

So we can get that cost out and put that as another project.

B

And all the prices have to be by when uh october 1st, the citizen request for cip are due at the.

C

End of september, I would say, even if you have a ballpark, I think that's really a sufficient.

C

For purposes of what we're looking for yeah, because then it can be further investigated and.

B

Right and I have had some people, you know, give me various prices so and they would be in the.

B

You know people that would know not necessarily a stranger off the street, so.

B

um Yeah, so that's our list and why we're called citizens, because we're we're.

B

A committee right, I couldn't think of where else to put you so I figure shoot for september 30.

C

Do I think anyone's going to have heartburn if it's a little, you know a week or two later and.

C

I don't think so, but we're just the staff is trying to put its initial slides in vet.

C

Them so we have commitments to get them to a planning board at a certain point in time.

C

Right, so that's why it's you know there's a little bit of wiggle room, but then it.

C

Goes to the next process into the next process into the next process. Ultimately, city council.

B

Okay, so another did you have a question carrie? No. I had hair in my face.

B

My um so that leads us to another question for you suzanne before you got here.

B

um We were just having an informal discussion about how much we should ask for this time out.

B

With uh the city council for the cip, so I mean there were several school of thoughts and correct.

B

Me if I'm wrong, I said if we go ask for eighty thousand dollars in additional to the 40, that.

B

We're gonna get that was approved last year. Well, keep in mind each year is a new right. um There's.

C

A new opportunity for the city council to revisit so so the way your cip works is, you know it may.

C

Show 40 this. You know 40 for this current fiscal year. They they agreed to and fyi when they adopted.

C

The fy 23 budget right and they had a plan of an additional 40 40 carry through for each year. Okay,.

C

So we, but but you can't you'll, have to advocate first for at least the 40 that.

C

They had already planned for because each year it's a new appropriation, so the question is.

C

Is it gonna, you know, what does the city council ultimately going to want to include? Are they going.

C

To want to include that 40 like they originally planned for, and you know my experience over the.

C

Years is generally it's not a going back, you tend to add two or you move things to out years, because.

C

Some other priority arises so you're you're in the general fund category, which is the one that.

C

You're competing with roads and sidewalks and facilities and library. So that's you.

C

Know when you look at the cip, you fall under. You know those types of the big guys, the the.

C

General yeah, what's coming out of the general tax revenue versus water and sewer, you don't compete.

C

With that, because those are enterprise funds, so you're com, you're competing and so that's.

C

When you think about it, because that's what it is, the city council has to weigh the priorities.

B

So when will we have the opportunity this list that we just created.

B

If we went the 42 000 for the specific point of graves, then when could we do? When would be the.

B

Appropriate time to do a presentation like this, you know something like this to show where the.

B

Money would go and why it's needed. So there are multiple opportunities for public hearing and.

C

The first one starts at the planning board because the planning board refused the cip.

C

First, before it gets to the city, council, okay, and so that will be.

B

Coming up sometime in this fall, I didn't bring the schedule. I think it's even december.

B

All right so were any of the costs associated with the support from public works for the water truck.

A

Assigned against our oh yeah, I looked into that that was, it was minimal. Anyway, they only paid.

B

Whatever the cost for um the employee that came so there was no and suzanne just shook.

B

Her head that we didn't get charged. I think we just absorbed it right, because there was no. It.

B

Was the cost of overtime with whoever came for the three or four hours? So it wasn't a large.

B

Sum of money that we're taking up you know from the city to do that project. Luckily, so so would.

D

It be okay if we're were to approach. The city council with instead of 40, seems to be the base.

D

um Maybe 70 000., I think I think precisely is what I'm saying is. You can just remind them last.

C

Year, you approved the cip, assuming that there'd be 40 in this fy 24 coming up based on, and then you.

C

List all the reasons we think that number should actually be increased for the 70 for fy24 and and.

C

Because now we know there are additional out years and then maybe you should increase those out year.

C

Amounts as well, so that's the that's. The argument.

B

Okay and that's my argument when I spoke to daglin the other day that.

B

um Hopefully, this isn't going to be like a 20-year project. You know getting these cemeteries back up.

B

In shape and that's why the fundraising is such a a crucial part of this or or it will be, and I.

B

Don't if that's what happens, that's what happens, but my personal goal is not to have it. I would.

B

Like to see it done in six six years and I think it's doable, I say that without talking to peter.

B

Rice, but so far you know when we come with our plans and it's well researched, realistic prices.

B

um You know we have a shot at it as opposed to getting bits and pieces. Does the city ever so.

B

If we went in and asked for seventy thousand and you're talking about total from the 40 000 that.

B

They already agreed to add another 30 to make it 70. do they ever I mean they can outright turn.

B

It down, but would they ever say, no we'll give you only ten thousand more or to do the doors on the.

B

I mean they wouldn't be that specific, but ten thousand dollars towards an extra project or.

B

Something um they they have the final say in the adoption of the cip, so they can add, they can.

C

Subtract they can keep it the same. Well, we'd have the evidence too, of this damage that was recently.

D

Done that was publicized and I'm thinking, if they know hey, this is one of the reasons why.

D

We need to fix all of this headstones, and this just happened outside of what we were planning.

D

Then we have a reason to say to them: we need this increase, I mean they can always they. We can ask.

D

For 70 I thought 80, but we could ask for 70. They may just say: okay, let's just do 65. and your babe.

D

Will be better off than where you are today, so it's nothing wrong with asking all they can say.

D

Is nowhere I just the the amount to whatever they feel is uh they can do, but oh yeah, no and.

B

My the other part of that conversation was in the past and from all the discussions I've had with.

B

You know people that were around the 2013-2016 and all that type of thing about specifically cemetery.

B

um Is there a fine line that you know we're too greedy or we're too this, or is it fine to shoot.

B

For the moon and- and uh you know, perception is a big part of it. So that's my question about it or.

B

Do we wait until we're more established and show some of the work we've done to ask to up the ante.

C

You know it really, is you know it? No, I know you can't give us a definite yes or no.

D

um Can you show back one of the pictures of the north cemetery, one of the first ones yep, please.

A

D

All right, one more! Okay: do you see those areas in the north cemetery? Yeah, cotton, all right, one.

D

More hold on yeah right there, all right, you see all those areas and look, there's nothing.

D

They used to be headstones in there at one point, their bodies buried underneath. I know.

D

I know I mean I brought people to have the uh the machines that can detect metal.

D

And there is bodies under there, so my my thinking is: we have neglected cemeteries like this, and this.

D

Was it's probably one of the most neglected and the most one of the most important for so long.

D

That unless we put a massive effort into saving it, the whole thing is going to look like that area.

D

In in another 20 or 30 years, like that, blank area that had nothing.

B

I don't think anybody disagrees with that. Do we, so that is the reason why we need the resources.

D

Now- and uh uh I would make the argument that yeah when we we're asking for a lot. But it's.

D

Because for the last several years, nothing really the cities, the cemeteries, have not.

D

Been taken, the city has neglected this and now we're looking at being raised altogether.

B

I understand your point and others should address those shoes.

B

Where do you expect the money to come from? That's that's my point. I mean do. Do we all.

B

Feel like it should all come from the city, because that's going to be a long long way, I think if we.

A

If we, um I think that would show the city that they were serious, we can but fundraising requires.

D

That you have people that are really good at it through grants, through events or through.

D

Participating with other events, uh you know joined events, and I'm not sure that we have.

D

Enough manpower to be able to do that, and it is the responsibility- lies with the city, 100 percent.

D

uh And has for a while we can. We can fundraise to do additional things, but this is ultimately.

D

The responsibility of city of portsmouth, but there is there- is I'm sorry carrie. I agree.

A

um I just think that, once we have some success, we have projects that look great.

A

I mean just the clean headstones are amazing. I think there'll be more attention paid.

A

It's easy to ignore something: that's been neglected for 100 years yep. What if we start.

A

I mean nothing breeds success than more than success. What do you think don you've been quiet.

B

um If you don't have a gun, that's fine, but well I don't because I I don't know about the. I don't.

A

Know how the city feels about these these things in general, within these yeah, but I I.

A

Do think that there's that um that kerry has a point that about showing our um seriousness of.

A

Purpose uh would in our work, would uh I'll be away some good groundwork for another.

A

Application, so we actually have 40 000 for this next year right and it's it's not guaranteed so.

A

Spend that so easily yeah.

A

I guess maybe I should toss this number out real, quick just from old numbers of what it would cost.

B

Is a million dollars? No, we just need some some um demonstration projects. Oh, oh! No, absolutely! I agree.

B

With you, but my point bring a million dollars in old numbers. That's that's not coming from the city.

B

Right, the number is not coming from the city if they've neglected cemeteries for a hundred years.

B

They're, I am with the same philosophy. I think I had stated that before that we are building.

B

Up momentum, we're building up our name and we're getting out in the community and just last year.

B

Within this past year we got trees cut over it at pleasant street. It looks 100 better. We have a good.

B

Chance of starting our program at point of graves we're going to have database and a map on the city.

B

um And the library site uh we're waiting to find out from the grant and I think we've got a good.

B

Shot at it and I'm probably missing a couple and cleaning over 500 headstones, I mean that's a a lot.

B

Of stuff and and I'm sorry but I'm I am passionate about this project, so um I I think that's a really.

B

Good base that we're starting off of and if we continue, if we get the testing done at point of.

B

Grace and we do these- the 400 headstones for the 400. I and I was going to bring this up on my own.

B

I have approached this library and they would do a joint venture with the cemetery committee and.

B

We could have glenn knoblock come in in the spring and do it as a big presentation as a joint effort.

B

From the city, uh the library and the- um and we could do fundraising at that- but that's not the.

B

Point the point for me is to get us out there and they're very excited about it. So um and and we'll.

B

Contact glenn and then the other project, I'm working on with the anthony m library, is the.

B

Documents program, um james from the anthony and I figured out so I've I've taken the epitaphs from.

B

Louise tallman's work and I am putting the names into the athenaeum and to see if actual.

B

Documents come up, I've done about seven of them, and only one out of the seven did not have actual.

B

Documents and the people included in it are doctors, two doctors, a merchant, a sea captain.

B

And I forgot what the other two I mean. They were everyday people, but there was information. I mean.

B

One of them had a letter correspondence between them and john langdon. That's on file over there.

B

So I think, all these little things to educate the the community. What we have here and who's buried.

B

Here not just langdon and whipple are is one step further, so um I guess that's my two cents for.

B

Right now, sorry, but but I mean um on it, dovetails with what the both of you saying. We need to get.

B

Need to get out there and and and have people appreciate, what's what we have here in the city, so.

B

um I guess this all started around, you know who do we expect to pay for it and how soon it's going to.

B

Happen um I mean I, I agree with suzanne. We can ask to have funds pushed out, but then fundraise really.

B

um Intentionally to help get things done sooner than pushing it out over 10 or 15 years, so doing.

B

A little chunk at a time, so I I'm not sure if I missed something so suzanne in order to get the 40.

A

000 for 23, what do we have to do so right now, as peter shared at the last meeting? There's actually.

C

A hundred and seven thousand, that is because things accumulate over time if they aren't.

C

Spent in you know, capital currently dedicated towards historic cemeteries, but recognizing.

C

Those monies can move around if there's another emergency need that comes in.

C

That balances that out, but right now, there's there's 107, um because that includes what was left.

C

From the prior years, where monies were unspent and the 40 000, that was in the budget for fy 23, so.

C

That's why there's 107 right now and keep in mind if you get that moose plate grant? There was some.

C

Matching that would need to be done and there was some extra costs and my guess is with the.

C

Passage of time there might be a few other extra costs, so I would say: let's hope we get the grant.

C

um Then you could kick off and get that piece of work done and there's money to do it.

C

um And you know there is, you know we could talk with peter if we wanted to move forward for the.

C

Point of graves and start that work sooner rather than later, then that's something we can talk with.

C

Peter about is whether to pull the pin on that um and use the monies that that are currently.

C

There to do that, geotechnical work, so that is a a possibility. Now keep in mind, requests from the.

C

Cemetery committee, individual requests, um are gonna, get vetted and reviewed by the department.

C

That's most uh that it most applies to the request, so that means in most cases, it'll be public works.

C

um So there's going to be an initial looking at these, um as they all come in from public works.

C

And I think that's useful because when we see when we start to gather all of the needs and all of the.

C

Requests, you know whether it's for a playground or sidewalk or those other pieces, then it's easier.

C

To to look and say, okay, we know we have certain, you know, limitations on the budget and and all.

C

Of that kind of stuff to see the whole piece and that's really the benefit of a cip process, because.

C

You're, looking at all of the needs within the community staff will make their recommendations.

C

It'll go through the planning board. So if, if the recommendation coming out of public.

C

Works, for example, is, let's say, just keep it as it is forty thousand just for a hypothetical.

C

That still means during those public hearing opportunities. There's the what you did you.

C

Know last year, except do it earlier in the process, because now you you guys, are getting going and you.

C

Go and make your case just as you've been doing. We think you know really that forty thousand.

C

Should be seventy thousand and here's? Why? And we think you ought to build more money into those out.

C

Years because we already know there's x, y and z, we'll do our part to keep trying to fundraise or.

C

Find you know, sponsors for individual projects, um so it it's going to be a process and I think.

C

We from uh sort of management perspective are gonna, have a better idea. Once we see.

C

The other requests that come in and we look at the whole slew of of needs and that balancing.

A

Is there a standard form for the requests? Yes, there is a form okay, but it's a pretty.

C

Simple form because most people aren't doing quite the same level of intensive thinking and.

C

Background work that that you've been doing so, I actually jumped onto the.

C

The website and the cip form the pdf version of it is very simple. You know it's a one page. What.

C

Type of project do you have in mind, because it's really geared up a little more for you.

C

Know I want a new playground type of ask, um but it's easy enough. You could you know.

C

Feel free to attach kind of thing at the bottom and I think really that's what it is.

C

um Just you know, our request is pick your number and and even if it's not a specific project, you.

C

Can list the types of things and you know the good news is peter and corn have been here so yeah. They.

C

Understand the nature of the projects that you guys have been talking about, so that, as that.

C

Initial vetting is going through in terms of what they recommend versus hey. We got this request. We.

C

Can't you know we don't recommend it in the grand scheme of looking at the entirety of the needs.

C

Of the city, but there was the request and then it's the conversation yeah, so we're up against.

B

A lot of people, no no, but I'm just saying I just wanted right. There are other priorities, a lot of.

B

A lot of other people request. I just found out that peter britz for the shoreland. He has the.

B

Most plate grant in too he's waiting to find out about so he wants to remap all of the wetlands.

B

Here in the city zone, so we're even competing against somebody else that we know of here so.

B

um And as far as expertise and fundraising, I I don't think you need a lot of expertise.

B

I think you need a plan and people willing to try to carry it out, and so it doesn't.

B

Have to be people on this committee, we can reach outside people to ask them to do it.

B

And and the only reason I say that is because I worked at the y for 15 years and I worked at the y.

B

Fundraising for the building that's sitting there now I started there when it was just a bubble.

B

So, over a 15-year period, you know I participated in a lot of fundraising, but I also saw what we had.

B

To do to achieve that so in a lot of that was done by just people with being informed about.

B

What we're looking for and and willing to take that step to to help out? Because they believed.

B

In the cause, so again I just wanted to share that. So you know where I'm coming from looking at the.

B

Fundraising, is it fun? No, a lot of people don't like to do it. Did you have a board of directors.

A

There right and why yeah and do they are they expected to give? No, they weren't when I haven't.

B

Been there for years, but during this whole process, no, they were not expected to go. They.

B

Were expected to help fundraise, which they did a lot of them hosted? You know events and things.

B

Like that, but so we don't have that luxury of having but we but we can find people, I mean.

B

It doesn't, it doesn't have to be someone on this committee. It could be from someone that you know.

B

um That would be interested in is interesting. I I've heard a lot in the last four or five weeks.

B

From talking to different people and from the articles and everything that people are like.

B

Oh, I you know, I'm really interested in cemeteries, sort of thing so um they're out there and I don't.

B

Mean to preach I'm trying to motivate us motivate us that we can do it, but um and like I said, if.

B

You know somebody that might be interested in helping; they can certainly be a part of it. So.

D

I know we're coming to to an end pretty soon, so um just um just want to know if we're done with.

D

The cip conversation I just wanted to ask another question: um well, like we can't vote, but I I would.

B

Assume that I I should sorry I'm not assuming we have a choice, you know enter it, um take a list.

B

With the possible estimates and do have one of us do a presentation and ask for additional money.

B

Size asking a specific forty, two thousand dollars for um point of grace for the testing.

B

Am I reading this correctly? Yes, so uh I know we can't vote on it, but we can each voice our.

B

Which which approach you think we should take, or I think we need to revisit that with peter rice. If I.

A

Interpreted him correctly two weeks ago, there's a project scheduled for that whole mechanic street.

A

Intersection of upgrades on the pump station all right, that's right that at that point in time,.

A

This work would be incorporated into that project. That's right! I forgot about that, and it's also.

B

15 years out, uh 10 years out, you said not on his watch right and I I that's why I forgot about it.

A

You're gonna get the money to do that specifically, if it's going to be done at some point in time.

A

On its own, with federal funds, yeah.

B

I didn't know it was federally funded and I'm not sure what they're doing other than digging.

B

Up the road and replacing the the power, but my point I mean that's my that's going to be the.

A

Feedback you're going to get something peter. I I spoke to peter monday night at the reception for.

B

um Bob sullivan right before the meeting, and he was a go for it: okay, all right: um the testing.

C

Part for the testing part and if you'd like I can follow up with him after the meeting and see you.

C

Know, given that we right now, unless something's changed in the last two weeks, have the funds that.

C

We could proceed with that. I can ask them if that would make sense to do that this year and then.

C

Your cip ask is really everything for next year else, or you know some component of that other list.

C

Your next meeting is october's six. I believe I think so um it's not too far after the deadline.

D

The next city council meeting is the next week.

C

uh Yeah, but in terms of the next meeting of the cemetery committee- okay- well, I was just thinking.

D

About requesting for the cip funds, would that be done at that meeting or at a later meeting.

D

Later meeting right now, the request has been to get a form in just a simple form that says.

C

Please put this: you know, please give this some consideration with as much backup. You know backup.

C

That people may have about what it is they're requesting, because staff is going to review.

C

That in october, because our the department asks are due and they'll get wrapped up in it right.

C

um Or do mid october, so there's only like two weeks between the citizen requests coming in.

C

And staff needing to look at them decide whether they're going to incorporate them in to to our.

C

Asks so in the ideal world it would be nice even if there was just a consensus of you know. You know.

C

Giving susan authority to fill out the form and making an ask I right and um because that way.

C

It gets in the hopper, even if it gets matured. You know going as we get closer to the public hearings.

B

Okay, yeah, because going forward at the public hearing, we can add anything we want to that right.

B

So I mean get our place in the queue as they say. That's that's my that's my thinking it becomes at.

C

Least, a placeholder in there that there's going to be an ask and, and the scale of the ask would.

C

Be helpful so that peter can begin to think of okay. Well, how does that fit with the other asks.

C

You know because, like I said, the value is, he and corn have been here and and kind of see.

C

You know the effort that this committee has been making so um yeah so sue. I mean how yeah the point.

D

That I was going to make um it's it's outside of this conversation, but I think that I would.

D

Like to explore in a way that we can be trained on fixing graves on fixing those headstones ourselves.

D

uh It's a matter of just learning how to apply epoxy the techniques- maybe some of the brackets.

D

On the side- um because there are just too many that are damaged now, and uh so we need to learn.

D

Ourselves and get really good at it, so we can do it. The who was the fellow that started this off.

A

At the north cemetery, john lord he's going to be down tomorrow at your cemetery, so I'm gonna.

B

Meet him tomorrow, what time he he's hoping to get down there at 8, 30, 9 o'clock,.

A

So he's going to be doing some epoxy repair, cleaning and standing up with falling stones.

A

Tomorrow, yep tomorrow, oh it's time to 10.! Well, no, he said he'd be down there about 8 30.

B

um I mean anybody can come down and see how he does it he'll come down and give us a formal.

B

Training anytime, I think a formal training of people that are interested in doing the.

D

Particular task may be appropriate. I'm just like there are just so many now ed and with the 11 that.

D

Got damaged recently is like how about the person that did saint john, oh he's too, he's too old.

B

He retired I've seen him a couple times and, and he's mentioned that very meticulous. He.

B

Did a fabulous, yeah yeah, you can still retire and train us doing a you know a video. No, if I'm.

A

Concerned because I mean I don't have a lot of physical strength and I don't are you picturing.

A

Us picking up I'm picking, I'm picturing, some of us who may be adept to be able to do it.

D

Yeah doing it, I think not lifting braids, but many of the wants that I've seen is a matter of just.

D

Boxing them back together and putting brackets so that we'll be safe. You know, if you guys, can.

B

To I've got the broken headstones suzanne, if you can to show you what kind of work we're talking.

B

About carrie, okay, uh it's in a different one right. It's the other presentation, yeah.

B

Eva, what do you think about all this.

A

um Pretty carefully and well first, I find it overwhelming and.

A

And um secondly, I thought a lot about fundraising of what we would be able to accomplish this.

A

Look bad but we're not even going to get to that today. No, but um I I don't know I just.

A

Oh, I got the the fact that it has enough. Whoops bobby has said allocated for so long.

A

um Is to us that's a very worthy argument.

A

uh That uh I'm sorry for the way I sound, diverse satisfaction, um it's very. It makes sense to us.

A

But I don't know, and maybe suzanne would know better if that's what really works when you're.

A

um uh You know looking for for funding um is that, let's hit them over the head approach. Do.

A

People that run our city and prepare our budgets look for at that. Is that persuasive to them or is.

A

It more persuasive to take the other approach that was was offered about showing what we've.

A

Done and- and you know I just don't know enough about how the city works and the people involved.

A

Who are making those decisions, and I think maybe some of you there know better than I do.

A

Oh, thank you. Maybe there's nothing else in here. So please use the.

B

um That's what happened to that's all right, oh she's, right there.

B

She is she still: okay, yeah, okay, yeah; okay, it's the arrow keys, yeah.

B

um I think oh, I use those yes, okay, even I I think that's the hard point about all of.

B

This is, none of us are familiar and it's uh it's uh 50 50.. If you go one way or go the other so.

B

Perhaps you know uh at least getting us in the queue for the process. We have more time to sit.

B

Down as a group and talk about exactly how, much by the time it comes to ask for money.

B

How much we should ask for okay yeah for sure? Okay, all right! So uh can you see these slides.

B

Yes, okay in case I use arrows. What arrows is he talking? I used these ones. Okay, oh yeah. Sorry, I'm.

B

Gonna learn this this tree uh two weeks ago. You can't see it here, but right down the middle of.

B

The whole tree split and um corin's team was right out there. I emailed I just happened to be there. I.

B

um Texted him and they were there the next day and they took down this whole side branch and it was.

B

Hollow inside so it was a good thing. This is at um north cemetery so and they were right there so.

B

um And they've done a good job all summer. This is one of the broken headstones at north.

B

They re-broke a stone that had been fixed with epoxy before um this didn't have any epoxy on.

B

Either side and looks like they tried to get it out of the ground just for something to do.

B

um That again was epoxied, who knows how long ago, and they just came along and zapped it.

B

It looks like that's been there a long time. We picked it up on the side and there's no, I mean.

B

How much does that weigh when it just went in there's no dirt and stuff around the edge of.

B

It so I mean I would assume it would make a dent when it fell that night, but anyway, that was just.

B

My theory so but it's broken and it's an epoxy one, so um this got broken off and put over there.

B

um This was a doozy, they tried to dig it out, broke it off up at the top and then.

B

Somebody might have come along afterwards and tried to stand it up with a stick, so this is.

A

The vandalism you said took place recently: yeah yeah. We just cleaned this stone this summer, so.

B

um Same way, this was a very clean break, um don't even know if those two pieces go to that there are.

B

Pieces of headstones strewn around even before you know. Looking into this um did the police control.

A

These cemeteries at all, no wow is that, oh maybe that is my final one. I thought I had loaded more.

B

But let me talk about that: yeah yep. So those are that's not all 14, but it's the type of of.

B

um And this one was actually dug right out of the ground. It's a small one. At the top, so yeah I mean.

B

We have so much going on. I know you have already talked about it, but uh yeah. You know we could.

A

Research, it put them up on our building because there's been a lot of vandalism right and I'm.

A

Like right next to the cemetery right and they're, you know you hear the noises of people partying.

A

And it's changed. I've only been here like five years and it's just getting to be more and more.

A

Of that kind of activity, that's what chris was saying too. You know because he lives over by you.

B

um That it's really changed graffiti and buildings and yeah so yeah we're. We have a security company.

A

Coming to put up cameras, I mean that's, certainly something we can look into put it on the long list.

A

I'll also reach out to the pd into public works, because we do have, you know, like cameras down.

C

It there are some cameras in the prescott park area, particularly during festivals, right yeah. I.

A

Mean it takes a lot of infrastructure, you have to have wi-fi depends where it is, but the technology.

C

Is actually getting you know much cheaper yeah, so what would have been very burdensome to do.

C

um It's just challenging, but you know we've, you know, there's been live streams.

C

On you know: market square, you know it's a public area hey. Can we do that if we.

B

Can focus google whatever and just cover the whole cemetery just live streaming.

A

uh You know: do you know what the word shonda means? No, it's a disgrace. What happened here I.

A

Mean I I don't you know, I know you know that, but that's true. It's really shocking yeah yiddish.

B

It is, and it is truthful, that these cemeteries have not been taken care of for over 100 years.

B

Things that have been done have just been quick fixes with whatever was available or whatever.

B

The method was, at that point in time like down a point of graves. The lime covering was the big.

B

Thing back in the 30s and 40s, I think putting a skim coat of lime plaster over everything.

B

Oh, you know you're dealing with that. I mean it's not that they absolutely and michael will attest.

B

That there were not until what the 50s or 60s they didn't mow cemeteries right was it that late.

B

Yeah they let the grass grow and cut it once the limited maintenance limited. I mean some.

D

Some of the small damage a couple of people can just work in it put brackets on it. It's.

D

Not like you're talking about huge monuments, it's just you know a smaller headstone, so.

D

um If we can train a group of people who are willing and capable of doing it,.

D

Some of the newer techniques how to be able to do it, we probably.

D

Have better quality epoxy now that they did 40 years ago? So maybe we can start.

D

Making some head weight because they just more and more every year, I've seen it for the last.

D

10 or 15 years that I've been involved walking through the cemetery every year I go in one or.

D

Two more that are gone one or two more that are broken, and it's like need to be able to.

D

Just go ahead and said: okay, I'm gonna fix this today, instead of just letting letting it just.

B

But that's certainly that certainly so that's a project we can work on. How late do you think.

B

Michael and the season you can't epoxy can't be applied too late into this time of year. Right.

A

Yeah, the substrate temperature has to be at least 40 degrees and rising, so you've only got another.

A

Oh, you think so because I was going to say I mean that's. Certainly a project.

B

We can look into getting training done on from various people, including you.

C

Cognizant of the time yes and the fact that I do think if you could get even.

C

A basic placeholder in by the 30th I know public works would appreciate it.

C

I just I just don't I you know you guys have done so much work. I want to make sure it's captured and.

C

And I'm willing to you know, work with you to okay, make sure you know where the form is and.

C

And attachments are fine and I can check with peter if peter is thinking that the we should do.

C

The geotech on the point of graves, then you don't even need to do that. One then do a single form.

C

Kind of list some of this stuff and right because he he may even be able to save us some money as.

B

He implied to roll it into something else, but the sun's out everybody. So let's vote on that side of.

D

The building, I'm sure so um the okay, the or the consensus is to go ahead and get our place in.

B

The in the queue for cip and then we will continue to work on what we want and try to get more prices.

B

And come to grips with. All of this. Are you going to be able to do that? Yeah, okay, yeah! I can yes. I.

B

Can would you like to do it? No, I just want to make sure someone is doing it. Oh no! I I will do it. Yes,.

C

And I think what you could do is you could then, um if you complete the forum that you.

C

Get in september 30th you can bring it to the next committee meeting because, like I.

C

Said it's early in the month and the if we get a quarter the quorum could ratify it and.

A

You know have a proper vote saying yep. She did what we had hoped. She would do something.

A

On that one, this guy's gonna work by the important and say hey. Could you see if.

D

You can adjust the form because we'd like to do that so to pick up someone around 10 30.

D

Maybe I have a piece of paper that lists some of the costs, to the extent that we know them and the.

A

Projects that we we've been talking about right, I think we'll be in the minutes right. We actually.

A

Generated that for this, no nothing was generated for this. We're just working off of the old prices.

B

In the in there, but variety of different techniques, when I submit prices to uh for.

B

The cip, I will copy everybody, so they will know what kind of funds we're talking about. Do we have.

B

To approve that that that's what she's saying so you have to vote on it. It's not written in.

B

Stone so we get that information in this is what our estimate is at this point in time and then.

B

um We can discuss it afterwards and we can change it. It's not like the final proposal.

B

Or anything like that, it's just a working work in progress, a point to start at and we have it.

B

At the next meeting or yeah, that would be the goal yeah yeah, so is the meeting close.

D

Glued it, you have to extend it wasn't a formal meeting at all, because you didn't.

C

Have a core we'll have to decide whether we you know if we keep having trouble having.