City of Portsmouth, New Hampshire Cemetery Committee, 5 May 2022

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5.5.2022 Cemetery Committee

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Just have everybody.

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Oh recording, oh okay, we have now officially opened.

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The cemetery committee meeting um we're going to do roll call we'll start with susan sue, polidora.

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Celeste brooks and welcome celeste she's, our newest member hi. Thank you. Sue, sherry.

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Didi forte, eva boyce, carrie rubenstein, michael griffin, uh corey halliwell city of portsmouth.

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Okay, uh did everybody have a chance to look over the minutes from last time and.

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If they found any mistakes to, let us know or can we go ahead and approve them.

B

They were fine to make.

B

Make a motion to approve the minutes from our april meeting I'll. Second, it.

A

Great, we have a lot of stuff, so I okay.

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I'll get it done by the time I retire from here. No.

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Work on that, um we have a lot of stuff to go over, so I'm just gonna go. Some of them are just like.

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Real quick updates for you, everybody, so first one is new hampshire, new hampshire, historic registry.

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I did not see it, but people came up to me and said they saw on the news and in the newspaper.

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That we were approved so, uh which is really great for unions for our union cemetery yeah. That.

A

She said she was sending a packet, do you know if it went to your office.

C

It may not have seen anything yet. Okay, I expect it would come given my letter but yeah I haven't seen.

C

Anything I think she said she was going to send out two. You know one to you and one to me, but.

A

um So we're looking forward to that, I don't know what happens after this. If there's a ceremony is.

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I know we get a sign and that type of thing so, but we did get it, which.

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Is really great and a lot of people saw the report, so that's getting us out there.

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Moose plate grant, we did get approved to apply for the moose grant, which is really good.

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Eva has done all the hard work as far as filling out the application I did, which is what I was.

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Trying to call you about yesterday, corn, um I did a walk through with a gentleman from.

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Pickering maritime, who they do sea walls all the time. This is when you get a chance. I.

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I have downloaded pictures of what we're talking about for the rest of the committee.

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That wall I haven't been able to find out what date the wall was built, but it's not anything new.

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um A lot of the boulders that came from the wall are sitting right next to the wall.

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As you can see, and then the other half of the cemetery never had any stones there, that.

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That part would be a different project and we wouldn't have to build a stone wall. There.

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Cemetery, this is union our union and north. So this is right behind you. Union cemetery.

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That's where the um where's, the oh yeah, the tomb is right there, so it this is.

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Pretty much what the wall, what kind of shape it's in right! Now, it's nothing! It's not going.

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To fall apart in the next five years, but it needs to be taken care of anyway. So um so, when I walked.

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The the property low tide yesterday he let me know it was a very doable project. He felt that.

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Because he works with the department of environmental services all the time.

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There's not even 50 percent of the wall has to be touched, because maybe only a quarter of it.

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So we may be able to not have to go through getting permit from the des.

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So I'm trying to get a hold of the state to have them come down. His general consensus is that.

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As long these boulders don't have any moss or seaweed on them, they can be moved. But if.

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They have growing seaweed or moss on them. We can't touch them, but most of them don't.

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That's it for right now he was going to send us an estimate. I told him we had applied to a grant for.

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The 20 thousand dollars he felt that it was doable at that price that we don't have to bring in any.

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Barges or anything like that um yeah, how are they proposing to move the rocks uh backhoe that they.

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Have use it specifically from the water or from no from he measured and from the front gate.

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Straight on the path he said, the only damage that that would generate would be like when it turns.

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It would tear up some of the grass, the excavator, with a thumb or something okay, yeah exactly.

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And again, this is only research, so when we came to to you, I mean when we got the.

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Des to come down, then I definitely would want you to be there, but.

C

That's what I was going to ask if you're going to bring someone from the state down to talk about permitting, if you could just coordinate with corn, oh yeah and beyond.

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Anything beyond just a contractor. That's my cell phone! You probably called my office.

D

I'm not in that much this time here. So sorry, I didn't that's. Okay, that's not a problem. I.

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Was hoping we see you here so anyway? That's what ever is working on um at this point in time, so.

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Keep your fingers crossed. We may be able to get that wall fixed, even if you can't see it from.

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The street, you can see it from the rest of the mill pond anyway, and it's a safety issue.

A

Because further down this is a bigger project where the wall wasn't. There are headstones that.

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Are literally inches they're going to sink into the mill pond right, they're, literally inches and.

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They're also a couple of those trees. um I was telling michael the other day, the trees, the big.

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Ones come down the roots fold under like this, and they have bark over them now, but underneath.

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A good two feet: it's already eroded more than half of the size of the tree underneath so.

A

I've never seen that, so I don't have any idea when that might fall into the bay or um so it has to be.

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Taken care of, but the big reason is because of the graves that are right along that eroded edge.

A

um Oh, I'm sorry yeah sorry go ahead. Did you see there was a sewer project or adjacent to the.

D

Cemetery this week, yeah, oh just curious. Oh I I don't know, I'm not involved with sewer projects.

A

So I got out of my: it was right next to the uh union cemetery in a house that abuts it. Oh, oh,.

A

The new one that they're building- I know they were working on the railroad trucks yeah. This was you.

D

Know, on the other end there and I mean- and I so I stopped and asked the guy what they were doing.

D

And he said: we've got permits, everything's, okay and apparently everybody who's associated with.

D

The cemetery of the town had stopped and asked about it, and they were. They were very defensive.

D

But they they were not disturbing anything. It was just right next to some graves there. There is a.

A

Buffer line, but that that area is grandfathered in those houses have been next to that cemetery. For.

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Hundreds of years, or at least 150 years I would say so as long as they're, not touching anything.

A

Inside the wall, then there there was a big trench. There were people in it, but yeah. That's it just.

D

Wondering if you knew yeah no well, if they had found anything, they would have told somebody.

C

Aware there's a reporting requirement: first, you're not allowed generally, unless you've.

C

Got special permission to work within 25 feet of the edge of a cemetery and then.

C

You have reporting requirements if you find anything under state law, yeah.

D

Yeah, no, I and I knew about the grandfathered, and you know if you're there you can still have to be.

A

Careful so um sorry, um I wanted to ask you about the boulders that had you know, liking on them and.

B

Things like that, so um so, if you went down there you would see the masonry's all gone. It's just.

B

All yeah so, um but if there are boulders and we can't touch them is part, are they going to supply.

B

New things, no they're not going to help us with that it. It's the environmental protection act.

A

They may say it's okay, I mean you know. If they're not, can they make a wall with just what's there a.

B

Viable wall that well that's what he yeah, because you can see where the the, um where they actually.

A

Fell out in the case of many of them, so yes, no, I don't. I didn't know we couldn't touch something.

B

It's possible, let's put it that way. Yeah. I didn't know that I thought we'd like pick them up dusty.

B

Marvin, you know put them back up, but no, but that's not the case yeah so, and and also a viable wall.

A

Oh yeah, oh yes, it will be suitable, no question about it. Okay, and are they going to give you.

B

An estimate yeah, it should be here next week, wonderful and then I can build it into this. Well.

A

You have to wait because we'll have to get someone down from the state to let us confirm that we.

A

Actually can pick up the boulders and put them in place so, okay, I think what would be helpful.

C

Is we should probably a small group of us maybe sit down with corin and all of us and and talk.

C

Further about this because you're you got a cost, for it sounds like just kind of replacing in kind.

D

You know if, and I don't know what the long term plans I don't remember the whether the restoration.

C

Project looked at that at all, but there are ways if you do more permitting and spend more money to.

C

You know do a different type of construction which would require permitting. It would allow.

C

For re-mortering or or other pieces to the wall, so I think we should probably have a conversation.

C

With plans in front of us or maybe meet on outside, I mean corn. Do you think that would make sense to.

C

Kind of look, I think it depends on the really overall objective of the committee. I mean it's.

C

Just the question: what's the objective do what you're talking about it's just, which is stabilized.

A

For now that sounds like and yeah really great plan to make, and then the second half would be.

A

Later on, it's a much bigger project. They, the state, won't allow us to build another wall. They're gonna.

A

Have us fill it in with just free free boulders, you know bring in 16 wheelers. I mean yeah 16.

A

Wheelers, it sounds like really. The first phase would be it's just strictly this just to prevent.

D

Any further deterioration right exactly there's a whole other phase of like what are we going to do.

D

Really long term about rebuilding to protect all the earth to stop the erosion. That's right.

A

And- and um this gentleman too, where they are yeah, okay, good, great all, right yeah, I mean I.

A

Was going to talk to him too, but I mean that's right. I just want to make sure we're all on the.

C

Same page, yes, absolutely, and what the whole yeah yeah, whether you're going to achieve.

C

What you wanted to achieve right, so that was the right word. What's the objective, and this is what.

D

We talked about after the last meeting on site, yeah yeah yeah. We did go over it. That's right.

A

So that's that's one thing. That's in the works. If it doesn't happen this year, then that's fine.

A

If we don't get the money, but at least we'll have the experience of the process and then next time.

A

It's not going roughly now, but you never know so and then they all want them to know we're here. You.

B

Know we, I want to turn in a good grant proposal, so they know we're here and when they see them.

B

Coming down the road they'll know we're a good organization that you know has a handle on what.

A

We're generally what we're doing, and I think they will and the people that I've talked with.

B

Up to start preservation, they're lovely people, and they really want us to succeed. But.

B

Yeah, and also just so, you know, there's a time constraint on this- the the.

B

The grant is due in concord at um uh june 22nd, and I I certainly would like for it to be there not at.

B

The 11th hour and again, that's you, know more of we're on the ball and we're going to get it done.

B

So now that we've gotten this far with and and sue took in my mind, I was called like the purple.

B

And has has done that walk, um and this is the only thing that's left to put on the grant proposal.

B

And suzanne on the grant proposal, they they asked for a contact person and so forth and.

B

You are that person so send it to to me in the first instance and I'll coordinate with cory.

B

Okay, so I can put your phone number and email it all that stuff I I knew I could, but I felt they.

B

Should ask permission? Thank you. Okay, all right, and I know you guys were going to send me a copy.

C

Of the draft grant yeah, definitely all of that. It's all done. I will. I will uh send it over to you.

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We'll let you do the hard part trying to get trying to get it signed.

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The next one is l chip grant. Chris initially said he would do that, but he just doesn't have time.

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um And it's 80 000 in it. We do have to have matching funds. What um I thought, if it's not too.

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Late is if we were interested since we're working on union and north cemetery to be our showcase. I.

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Guess so, when we go for the other cemeteries to bring them back to life too, that the the tomb.

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That I have no real idea. I haven't been able to research it why they tore it down um this.

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Tomb right here, which is a part of the original cemetery, they tore down all the bricks and left.

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The front there, which it looks absolutely stupid my personal opinion, but you may not feel that way.

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The bricks they dumped them to the side, which was illegal, they dumped them into the water.

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On the edge and more bricks are in the back on the flat, which was also illegal. Whenever this.

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Happened back in 2015 or 16, or what have you? I would like us to try as an exercise.

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To go after the money to replace reuse those bricks and rebuild that and make it.

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I guess that you can't break into proof there's plenty of ways to do that. So I mean the excuse was.

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You know people were living in there. Well, you can certainly you know lock a place up, so people can't.

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Get in there and we would would be able to use, I think, probably at least 60 percent of the original.

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Bricks that were there, um but I you know, I can't make that decision. It was just something um that.

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Even I were talking about indeed and stuff like that of what to to go after, um and it.

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May be around forty thousand dollars and then hopefully we would have matching.

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Funds and those are just secure funds to make sure that we actually use the money.

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Hopefully, if the budget passes we'll have dedicated forty thousand dollars.

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Coming to us for a few years so and plus we have other money in the cemetery account and the trust.

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So I just wanted to throw that out to us today, because there is a time limit on it. Just like.

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There is on the moose chip grant um if, if anybody has any ideas or feelings about it,.

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What's the point, the point is we're going to turn the cemetery back into the original state that it.

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Was and that's and that's where it was and the materials are there so or either rip down that.

A

Because that looks stupid, that would probably be the best solution to rip that down. I like I.

D

Don't know the tune, I like the history of it the front face of it. It's almost left.

E

I much rather spend any kind of money that comes in on repairing some of the other tombs because.

E

It's they. Many of them are leaning they're going to require to be repaired. I know when.

E

They did that because I I went there to find to get pictures taken with, did all the.

E

Homeless, people that were living in there all their laundry all over the place.

E

So they they pretty much made it. So it was unlivable. um I'm not crazy about the idea.

E

That they just took the brakes, and you just put them on the side like that, but you know I just.

E

I don't want to just to tear it down, because it's part of the history of the cemetery.

E

But if I have money- and I could either spend it on rebuilding that receiving room or on the other.

E

um Markers that need repair I would, I would take it to fix the the markers I need repair.

D

Yeah we have authority to tear things down. It would not be something that we can just.

E

Go ahead and do is, this is permission from somebody being that is a historical site. Well,.

E

You would have to have a lot of signatures from a lot of people, saying yes, okay, to do that.

E

But my personal opinion, if I had the money to do that.

E

Either, removing that or use it to fix some of the um things that I've some of.

E

The headstones that are broken, I would prefer to use them to fix the headstones that are broken.

E

It's a tough choice. Well, this isn't either or do it today type thing we're going to be fundraising.

A

Money for a long time so- and this here I'm familiar with the yale chip you have to have the.

E

That fund the matching fund already right and you are in your account before they.

E

Even decide to give you any kind of money, I understand that I've spoken to suzanne about it.

A

If we go through the process of at least applying we'll we'll figure that out, it's.

A

It's not either or that we have to do it or that it's it is doable or it may be.

A

Very doable, we just don't know at this point part of another group that did it that did.

E

An ill-chip grant and just the pre-qualifications for it.

E

Are pretty elaborate, they need to have a study, cost them several thousand dollars to it to do it.

E

So it just to get that information that they needed done that part. What's the deadline for.

C

The l chip for this year, um it's later in june, it's a little later. It's like the end of june or.

A

Maybe yeah yeah yeah, it's not like. We have the whole summer. No, it's at the end. You have to do.

D

Because the way it looks now is just.

E

This is still on the door on the cemetery yeah yeah that car and I reported that several times.

E

And nobody has done anything about it. Well again, this was just a suggestion that, to.

A

Make an effort to go after an l-chip. We, I we wouldn't qualify to use l-chip money for.

A

Repairs on tombs and things like that, there are certain guidelines: the l chip.

A

Tends to be for the most the moose plate is for environmental. That's why we were accepted for the.

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Stonewall because that's an environmental issue, the l-chip is more for buildings.

A

Or this is what was explained to me from the state is buildings period type thing we could apply.

A

Maybe to get money to restore stones and tombs, but it might not be that they might not. Let us because.

A

Cemeteries haven't traditionally been a part of that. So who is my recent information that I got.

A

Okay- and we don't have to spend any more time I mean, does anybody else have any.

A

More comments or want to throw, in whatever I mean, because all these projects you know going after.

A

Them now doesn't mean um I mean you have to start going after them, because everything is so far out.

A

So if we went for an l chip now we wouldn't get the money until.

A

Next year, sometime, so if if we got it at all, so you know and then to coordinate.

A

Or to the city would be a part of that, and you know coordinating with the city when it could be.

A

Done who's going to do it, you know working with contractors and all of that, so it's not. I guess.

A

I just want us all to be aware that you have to pop apply for grants months or maybe even a year.

A

Before you even get the money, so that's probably what this is the most plate brand. They it has to.

B

Be in june 22nd, but they don't tell you if you got the money any money or anything until september.

B

And then they don't even release the whole thing to you. um They they give you half of it.

B

When you start and then when it's completed, then they give you the rest so there's, but I wonder.

B

uh And I know I I looked at the l chip, it is complicated. Sue is right, there is a lot to it.

B

When I read it, I was like overwhelmed. I thought, oh, my gosh, but it made me think that and that's.

B

A good thing to know, because it I wonder if in I mean it, would be very difficult to try.

B

And do something now to get it in by the end of june, but wouldn't it make sense to I identify.

B

And really create the goal for next year and do all. Because it is complicated and.

B

It is time consuming it's not I'm, not I'm not trying to be debbie downer here, because it's.

B

Totally doable it just is it's a time thing yeah and it's a covering all your basis, things so.

B

Why not identify you know what our project might be and then you know we have a lot of time to.

B

Work on it, that's a good point and make make it a really good grant proposal so that when next.

B

June comes around we're ready to roll on the on the l chip yeah, because it's not going to be.

D

A working receiving tomb I know, do you know what I mean, but it's it's the historic significance of.

D

It being there and being appreciated and respected- I guess so some way: okay, yeah so.

C

Maybe I I I agree, I think, trying to rush something for this year. Let's concentrate.

C

On the one that's pretty close to teed up, which is your your moose plate and then in terms of the l.

C

Chip, I think it would be helpful- and I I just don't know enough about the program. I've I've.

C

Heard it used for preservation of buildings a lot typically, cemeteries have just been added to the.

A

Yeah to the list of things they would consider, so I'm I'm thinking why don't we take the time the.

C

Committee, take the time to kind of you know we can use a white board and put up some suggestions and.

F

Really build it out. I know I don't know whether the cotton cemetery one might be a better fit.

C

um For the more typical l-chip type of program um in any event, but that's why, if we maybe white.

C

Board it up we'll take the criteria and spend some time and and really do that, work ahead of time.

C

You know, and maybe some of the bandwidth here will will ease up a little bit because I'm still trying.

C

To get someone to help us more with the growth, so when you give me the the moose plate, grant.

C

Application, I'm reviewing it with other people here who can say? Oh you know what, if you just.

C

Tweak these couple of sentences, this will make it more attractive for award, because that's what I'm.

C

Trying to do I'm trying to absolutely well, I could just say what I've got when you're ready.

C

When you're ready, um so that's my thought and we can maybe maybe I can bring someone here.

C

Knowing that that's what we're gonna do we're gonna look at a couple of potential projects.

C

To tf for next year- and I see if I can grab someone and you know I can work with mike because.

C

I know he's identified something and we'll tackle some of these, and you know sue may have some ideas.

C

And we'll just whiteboard them and see if we can move it'll move it along, but I I'm kind of with.

C

You, I think you might be better off concentrating on the one that looks pretty well teed up.

C

But no, I agree, I I'm just again just throwing it out there, so we all know because we really haven't.

A

Discussed grants and things like that, so this is the first time we've had something substantial.

A

Chris had offered a long time ago, but that that fell through. So no that's fine. I think if.

A

In a few months, if we want to put it on the agenda after everybody's had a chance to walk all the.

A

Graveyards and see what they you know might think would be a good project that we should go after.

A

And also I can get in touch with the state or any of us can get in touch with the state.

A

And find out exactly what this cemetery part of their elcha program. They.

A

Are actually considering, I think, that's great, I think if we tee that up with a little more.

C

Understanding of what's their vision, you know um because the closer we can get to.

C

Actually, having the all the effort that goes into writing, grant writing actually pay off.

C

You know that's what I want it'd be nice to get you a few wins on this so um yeah. Well, we got.

A

One down with the registry, so um I okay, so if does anyone else have any comment about it or is there.

A

Yeah, thank you. um I asked this question purely out of curiosity. um Sue said that if any money.

F

Came in she would prefer to have it spent on repairing headstones, uh just a ballpark.

F

How much ballpark, how much does it cost to repair one headstone that's damaged, would you say.

E

The expert, the griffin, probably can tell you a little bit more about it.

D

I don't have that specific number or research depends on the condition the size. What the nature.

D

Of the repair might be whether it's epoxy or yeah. I've seen a lot of epoxy kind of repairs on some.

E

Of the other right, the headstones in there, but I'm not sure where the cost is probably a wide range.

A

I've had four well: we've walked with two we've had four different people who work on cemetery.

A

Repairs of headstones and restoration, no one would commit to what it would cost individually.

A

Just for the reasons that michael said, it really depends totally on condition and.

A

Even if it looks like it's half, okay, if it has cracks and it's going to crack any time.

A

That's not something it's not inexpensive. It can really because of the man hours that it would.

A

Take I've been told again depending on what the shape is, if you have to pull it back up and do.

A

Some more work, you know an hour, maybe even two, on some headstones so and that doesn't even include.

A

Tombs, tombs are a whole different ball game and some of them actually can't be repaired.

A

Because of the condition they're in is what we were told a couple down there.

A

The best you can do is, if you just clean up the tops and.

A

And maybe put another plaque or something on top of it, like some of them down in north cemetery,.

A

Have the families have, you know, done up a big plaque and bolted it to the top of the tombs? So I.

A

Think we had agreed upon a while ago that we would kick everything off with the cleaning, because we.

A

Can get that done with volunteers, however, by doing that, hopefully we're going to get more money in.

A

From donations and we'll start our fundraising so as that comes in, we can figure out as a committee.

A

You know, do we want to hire so and so and how many headstones we can figure take pictures headstones.

A

Do we want them to start off with because it's going to be a gradual process too? It's not going.

A

To be someone's going to come in and straighten up all the headstones in union and north in.

A

Two weeks, first of all, it would be very expensive because I had someone walk. You didn't come with.

A

Me I had someone walk richard ciphers, who has done plenty of headstone repair in the area. He.

A

Watched cotton with me way back when and he said he didn't even think he could do it for 130 000.

A

And there's only 400 headstones up there and probably every single one needed something done.

A

To it, a lot of straightening a lot of pulling back up, but down in north cemetery, there are way more.

A

Broken headstones than there are tilted headstones, so every cemetery is going to have its own profile.

A

And what kind of work is going to be done so and north was worked on yeah? I don't know what has.

A

Been worked on so quite a bit, so just within a few years it's been more damage right, so I think.

A

I didn't want to come across as pushing us to get the l-chip, but that wasn't my intention.

A

Because all of this is going to have to be done in increments, I just wanted to throw it out there. So.

A

I don't know if that answers your question, I mean that's. Well I do I just wanted, you know. Is it yeah.

F

A hundred dollars a thousand dollars, five thousand dollars per headstone, any any idea.

F

At all, no well, you can go up to cotton and he he tossed out thirty thousand dollars to fix the.

A

Headstones up there and, as I said, there's 400, so it was 430 000. so and that when you fix it.

A

Have someone come in? That means they also clean it, but that's not the expensive part of it. It's.

A

You know, and a lot of there are a lot of headstones laying flat up there and that's another.

A

Great debate of, do you leave them in the ground, or do you pull them up and straighten them up.

A

That's the controversy, isn't it yeah? Some people say, leave them there, because they've already been.

A

Damaged underneath from the environment and that bringing them up isn't.

A

It's going to make it worse on that particular side, with my understanding.

A

So that's another debate. We will face going down the line here so.

A

Which, as far as headstones and and getting money and certifications, I spoke to.

A

Nick cracknell, who is in the planning department and what's his title, uh I think it's assistant.

C

Planning director or something like that, yeah yeah. Well, I I hope he doesn't hear.

A

Back but he's in the planning department, he is the liaison to the historic district committee.

A

The state also has another grant program and it's called certified local government.

A

And again, it's federally funded they're, looking to give away the money.

A

It is geared towards cemetery, or it can be used for cemeteries. What the money is used for. There is.

A

We can hire somebody to do the surveys for getting on registries or anything else or federal grants.

A

That's what the money's for so, however, the htc has to apply for it.

A

And he's willing to do that because it not only benefits us, but there are a lot of other.

A

Things that they, the state, will come in with national information and give them update on.

A

On, what's going on in historical preservation, also, they they will help them map out different.

A

Things and actually the state would actually come down and do a presentation to them that.

A

um You know all the benefits that they would get and the only string attached is that they have to.

A

Submit a report once a year of how many people, or how many or how many people came before them for.

A

Historic permission to do something in the area, so we're working on that and that's not a very that's.

A

Not a very intensive one. So did you have a question? No, oh, so that's could.

A

Solve our problem with applying for um grants, especially at the federal level.

A

We'd have an expert come in and and do the writing of what kind of in what century and.

A

That sort of stuff with state stuff too oh yeah, enormously yeah, but so that's going on out. There.

A

um The google map that jamie's working on he's going to push all the information.

A

Onto it, this book over here has I've documented every single graveyard in the city, both city and.

A

Church and family plots and that he's going to put some of that information on a google.

A

Map that will be interactive and then we're just going to update it after he sends it that we can.

A

Put a little history of each cemetery and then it will be able to go on to the website. So I've.

A

Shown the book to a couple like the anthony m and and the library and things like that and they're.

A

All very excited, because no one's documented, where everything really is, if it's still there.

A

And actually come up with more cemeteries than what louise tallman um actually did so.

A

But thank god for louise, um so that's well I'll, be coming pretty soon and and people.

A

Are excited about that um the edge plan, this one right here which I'll talk to you about.

A

Was done back in 2015., I put that out to different landscaping, companies or architects, and only one.

A

Got back to me so far, piscataqua and they're very interested in it. They read the outline.

A

And they're interested in coming over just walking the edge and and see what's going on so again.

A

Nothing in writing just to see if somebody's interested in doing it.

A

But this is totally based on the history of the cemetery, so that was also the reason.

A

Behind my thinking of the tomb, because that's part of the original history of the.

A

Of the cemetery um 101 objects book, I don't know how many of you saw chris's presentation at the.

A

What two meetings ago that city council meeting he did a presentation.

A

Update on what the committee is doing focused on north cemetery,.

A

Some of the people that are in there and why it's important to restore and things like that.

A

Well, someone for the 400th saw that and they reached out to him and asked him if he would.

A

Like to participate in their book, which is going to be called 101 objects that have influenced the.

A

400 years of the city of portsmouth, he's excited he's working on that right now, so.

A

That's another thing: that's going to get the cemetery committee out there. um I would.

D

Just want to say he did, he did an amazing job presentation. I mean he put a lot of work into that.

D

Yes, he did and he's very good on his feet, so yeah yeah yeah, I agree yeah. I know that they're still.

D

I just read like an article in this course: online they're still planning things for the 400th, but.

D

um Is like getting more involved with that, besides, just like the book could be due to.

D

Be doing things like tours in the cemetery on that day now, like that, usually that you mentioned that.

A

Was the next item on the uh you read the somehow I didn't put this on the 400th application is due.

A

June 15th, or something like that yeah I started filling it out, but what we have to agree on is.

A

What how much we want to participate in it, um eva, has sent out information to everybody.

A

About some towns do a whole week on about cemetery in their celebrations or anytime time. If we want.

A

To just do a day or if we want to commit to a week and for a week I came up with a few ideas.

A

We could get glenn knoblock to do a presentation at the library one night. We could we're working.

A

On trying to get documentation from people who are buried in our cemeteries to display.

A

Documents from that time period and just not colonial time, but right on through that are.

A

Hidden away in archives and the library, the anthony m and historic center.

A

Discovery center said they would be interested in helping us display documents and find documents, so.

A

We could have a display, we could have glenn knob block at the library we could line up. Another.

A

Specific cleaning day and we can do a reenactment, so I wouldn't do seven days, but certainly five.

A

Days of activities, and that's a year from now and my idea or thought was in the middle of the summer.

A

So either in july or august, so it gives us more than a year to nail down everything.

A

That we might want to do so any thoughts about participating for a week or just today or.

A

Might I suggest why don't since you've kind of given some thought to this and we've heard from.

C

The committee over time, why don't we draft a proposed submission to the committee describing.

C

These and you can bring it to the next committee meeting for final sign off by this group. We could.

C

Circulate it in advance, so you could come to the meeting I was just I ate in on it yeah. The next.

A

One is june 2nd right, yeah yeah, so that's right does that work, because you guys have come up with.

C

Some good things, so why don't we just get it in writing kind of like we did when we were. You know.

C

Doing with them, you know how to tee up the um yeah, the uh gravestone cleaning.

C

And let's get a nice little form, we can circulate it in advance of the next meeting and that way.

C

You guys have something very easy to edit and say yep that week looks good and everyone this project.

C

Looks good um so that you can get that information off to the 400th committee as they start to.

C

You know push communications out for the events um I just some. Sometimes it helps to actually have.

C

That written document yep we all agree. This is the good week we should choose in july august, whatever.

C

You ultimately decide, and I just find something if it's in front of you and paper yep. Let's do.

C

That and commit to it, and then you can vote on it and move it along, because I can you know yeah no.

A

I think that's a great idea um and if anybody has any ideas, any quick ideas I know, but just.

A

Reach out to you, yeah yeah, reach out to me so well, more immediately. We're just going to bring this.

E

On the any other um business is that I usually do something in the cemetery for memorial day.

E

Last year we just did a couple of people, we got together and we put flags in the front and.

E

So I want to probably do a couple of tours for the cemetery that weekend for the memorial day weekend.

E

The high school marching band go down. Well, the high school marching band goes down to.

D

Doesn't it no, it goes down to to the south cemetery, okay, but what we did last year.

E

Because that's there's, usually the north cemetery, nothing ever gets highlighted there. So we just.

E

Went there and just put american flags and some other graves and in that area, with the big flag.

E

The sign is, and then I just gave I announced that I would give tours.

E

A couple of days and whoever shows up shows up- and I just walked him through I'll- do that again.

E

This year, it's kind of my own, so my own effort to highlight the cemetery. So if the group wants to.

E

Take advantage of that, I just want to offer it out there. That's how many weeks away a couple weeks.

E

It's a monday, uh the 30th memorial days on monday, so I probably would do something that saturday.

E

I had to think about it whether do it saturday sunday. So if, if you'd like to draft up a little.

C

Blurb, I can send it out to and send it to me. I can push it out to all the committee.

C

Members, if you want, when you fix on your date, I'm planning to post it in some of the.

E

Oh official and unofficial okay sports metal pages, you know so if it's not our cemetery.

B

uh Yeah, it's a stephanie c chord yeah. I we can check with her.

A

And all that yeah, if it's something official to the cemetery committee.

C

Then we can post it on our stuff, yep and, like I said, they're welcome to take that.

E

Use that opportunity- I just do it just because that's what I've been doing the last few years.

E

When there wasn't a committee- and there wasn't anybody really paying attention, that's what I've.

E

Done just my own personal effort. But if you guys want to take that and take my time and make it.

E

uh Highlight whatever you want to do, I'm perfectly fine with it and did one of the tours you gave.

F

Didn't I see a little blurb in the portsmouth herald just just saying you, I think that the last.

E

One I did, I may have just sent a letter to the editor and say anybody wants to join me, um but.

E

I think I put it in the unofficial portsmouth page: that's how a lot of some of the people that came.

E

Through speaking of the portsmouth herald, I physically drove there again today and they're.

A

Not open, they have been open since, for I don't know how many months nobody's working from there.

E

Yeah and I have sent out emails, made phone calls, and I can't get through to anybody and.

A

So I wanted to try to get someone here for saturday, but I have no luck. I tried.

D

Contacting someone through seacoast online: that's who I've been working with yeah? So so let me just.

C

um I will let stephanie know she can drop them a note. They have very limited resources now so.

C

um Have you contacted howard, but I'm I'm happy to let stephanie know and nobody's.

A

Replying to anything yeah yeah, it's almost like we don't really have a loan. We don't.

A

Know I think, they're officially closed and they just haven't said it and move people to fosters.

C

So I'm cognizant of of the time- and I want to make sure sure that while corn's here because.

C

He's probably been here since early this morning: do we need any coordination pieces related to.

C

Saturday's event, while corn is here because, in which case I can let him go, and I've got.

D

All the cleaning supplies d2 we've got the parking spots they're going to get posted. I think tomorrow.

D

They're on the ball already up perfect. No, I mean I'm just telling you you're on the ball, I'm on.

E

Come on and uh we have the water truck, I've got um mark blanchette, one of my um's coming down.

D

He'll, be there probably get there on 7 30 drop off the materials, then go back and get the water truck.

D

So he'll be there, for you the whole time to fill buckets and.

D

You know get the safety glasses, gloves, rags, d2 scrub, brushes kneeling pads. um I don't think I'm.

D

Forgetting anything yeah, I I have forgotten I and I picked up some toothbrushes and some.

A

Popsicle sticks the small ones that people can use to get inside the groove so yeah. If there's.

D

Something anybody thought of that they need, I could get it tomorrow. So no, why are we going to do.

E

A quick training just before we get started. Yes, we are, that would be we'll, provide the materials and.

D

You can we'll be there to support pretty much the that's the game plan, we get everything and then.

A

John lord, from new hampshire old graveyard association will be down to do a demonstration.

A

He's bringing he may be, bringing three people to help because they wanted he suggested. We do it.

A

In pairs, because even some of the headstones, if you press on them, are wiggly, so you didn't want.

A

People to get hurt the first time out not being totally aware of all the things that can go wrong.

A

Right now we have four outside people and I need to volunteer for them. Okay, it should be.

C

Up on the website, stephanie said it was up on the website I'll double check. I didn't.

A

See it are you focusing just on the front right right? Yes, when you come in we're doing section a.

A

According to the map, we're just working in there leave that space open for the water truck. That's.

D

That'll give you the most advantage of the hose wheat, so we've got about 100 feet of hose on the.

D

Truck that he can pull up in to that area, you're working on yeah. So if he's parked right there.

D

That would probably be the best spot for him yeah right in front of the sign. Basically, okay,.

A

So yeah I I didn't see it but I'll double check. Yep. I got a bunch of nylon, brushes yeah. I've got.

D

About 20 um yeah, so I'll I'll be there. If he's dropping off at 7 30., roughly yeah he'll be back.

D

By 8, with the water truck for everybody, you just can't get it all in one. Okay, that's all right.

A

Because john, hopefully he'll be there between 8 30 and ready to start at nine. So so he's starting at.

D

Nine, the actual cleaning yeah okay, so he could get there. He doesn't have to be there at 7, 30.

D

Okay, I thought you were working eight to noon. For some reason. No, we got pushed back tonight.

A

uh Nine to noon, but we're gonna have to sign up people beforehand.

A

Okay, so he'll probably drop things off at 8, 30 and and be there that's fine either at nine.

D

Four with the water: okay, that's perfect, perfect! um So did we do any publicity about it or do we want.

D

Publishers, it must have gone online because yeah we sent it to the city council and she sent it to.

C

I'm pretty sure she sent it to the herald yeah. Well, the seacoast online.

A

It must have come out because I got two phone, uh not two phone calls. I got two emails.

A

Afternoon today about total people- I didn't know volunteering, so I assumed, and they were back to.

A

Back so I was assuming that's really good yeah. So again, of course, you can post that stuff to like.

C

The city's facebook page and stuff like that, yeah um no, I mean she said she was going to. I.

A

Haven't been online to chat but, okay, let me I'm trying to check right now, because she I talked.

C

With her this morning- and she said, I didn't see anyone yet having um signed up a couple of people.

A

Sent it to, I don't know what email they use, but um france was it who's down in the assistant city.

A

No city clerk- well, I don't know she sent she forwarded them on to.

A

To chris so- and he forwarded on to me because he made it to the unofficial page, okay yeah six hours.

D

Ago, okay, the the event yeah about the headstone cleanings; okay, I'm just let me see if the.

A

So is there anything else that you need from us, though, just got. I think I've got everything.

D

Covered as far as the materials that we talked about, yes meeting and um everything's lined up.

D

Ready to go so yeah definitely 8 30 is fine yeah and can people sign up on the day on saturday.

D

I mean if we have forms there, do they have to do it in advance. As long as you have the.

C

It's the forms I'm I'm looking for, which is why I was trying to get the forms in by friday.

C

um But I'm not, you know, I don't think I'll be able to be there on saturday. So I, if someone.

C

Wants to I'll make sure the forms get signed. I promise you can fire me if we don't another way.

D

To electronically sign it like someone could just that's why I thought stephanie was putting a and.

C

I don't see it um because I thought stephanie was doing an online form where you could just.

C

Fill it in and clicks, but I'm not seeing it so I'll find out where it is obviously paper.

C

Copies are fine. Do you have a copy of that? No, that's what I'm saying! That's what I'm asking.

A

So I can contact her too yeah. It's the same one we circulated here. I can send it to you.

C

Yeah, if you say yeah, that would be great yeah. um Do you want to send it to a couple of you, I mean.

C

Any of you who are working frankly should sign one well. That was my other yeah other question. Yeah.

A

I should have some today because I know I could do you know what, if you guys hang around, I can.

C

Run upstairs and go print the form and bring it down. That's fine. We still have five minutes.

C

I'm also taking your notes, though so oh yeah, I can't run up there.

D

You have to sit you're doing double duty here, um I'm wondering I said you're all set. I think if.

A

We can have a little table. Thank you that says um lauren. You did a lot. Thank you. No problem and I'll.

C

Be in touch with you any signage, or is it for like a qr code? No, I I haven't seen anything either so.

A

I created the one off the page. I just want to verify that it's going to it goes to our site, but.

A

It when you fill out the credit card information, it's going to the right place, if you want to put.

C

A little test, three dollars or something in and I can check with accounting in the morning and.

C

See if it's popping in okay, you know put something very original and that way yeah it'll pop is there.

D

Needs to go up, they were kind of. I thought they were supposed to be a little like a sign that we.

C

Could use for all of the cemetery yeah cleanings? Do you want me to bring a few stakes so that we.

D

Could attach a sign to it? uh That's why I'm just gonna, I'm just gonna, bring a table and put these.

A

I have some stands that we can put these on and bring the couple of books like the book that.

A

Yeah just for general information and is it can we bring a donation jar? Oh I don't like cash.

C

In the sense, if I swear on, if I swear on the bible that I won't steal, it.

A

We'll all swear that we won't walk away. Yeah military money- and this saturday is more.

D

About yeah, obviously, don't try to don't turn it down, but you keep a receipt and we really prefer.

C

To have good records, so checks are great. Yeah um cash is always a challenge, and you know in.

C

Fact for public works we've now people can now use cards uh forbidden credit cards at.

D

The front desk yeah somewhere um no now at the recycling center, it's about to go, live.

C

In part because it avoids you know, we try and avoid cash because of obviously.

C

The concerns about what happens to it yeah. No. I understand I've worked on non-profits, of course,.

C

Girl scouts, I just told that story, thousands of dollars get stolen from girl scouts every year.

A

Oh really by parents who don't turn in the cookie money yeah. Let me follow up with.

C

Stephanie, because I I thought she was working on, you know something like we did when they.

C

We did fleet street, you know we have little signages signage with the qr code, very handy.

D

um We've got some little a-frames like do you want me to put a couple in the truck.

C

Yeah yeah, why don't you do that? That would be great and I'll double check with stephanie. If.

C

I don't reach her tonight on the truck they'll, be there if you need them and uh yeah, because I.

A

Was going to bring this and stand this up too? So people don't forget clips, so you have to attach it.

D

Somehow um I can bring some staple gun, a staple gun, yeah, throwing anything a little like.

A

Oh, they are oh yeah. No, that would be fantastic.

A

That would be fantastic. um I don't think there's anything else that covers the current documents.

A

May 7th the 400s, I can't think of anything else. I mean this has been more than enough.

F

I got a quick question you mentioned. Nick cracknell is the liaison with the historic.

F

uh District committee, as opposed to historic district, ah do we have a separate? No, it's the.

C

Historic historic district, commission, commission, sorry mine is my my mission. I think that would.

F

Really be there well, I don't know. Is there a big difference between committee and commission yeah.

F

The historic district commission is, you know it's created by statute right. uh You know every every.

F

So, every time this reality is free to create one they don't have to, but.

F

Yeah, well so are we but uh it's it's not really. The.

F

Historical district commissions that normal function to apply for grants and stuff, like that, I.

F

Mean I don't think I don't think the uh providers of the grants are going to care, but uh just.

F

That just struck me as uh that's the only way we can get through to it. I mean all these grants. I've.

A

Been in contact with the state, people and they've been working really hard because they would like.

A

Ports, well, they want all kinds of cities to take advantage, but they've been after portsmouth.

A

Historic commission to sign up for years because we're already pre-qualified, so I know.

F

I know just enough people on the historic district commission. I can probably use my influence to.

F

Get the ball rolling if you just need a little push. Oh well, yeah! Well, nick is.

A

More than well, I meet with him next thursday. So if um you know, if we run into any problems, he's.

A

Really receptive, he was quite excited once I brought all the information to him, so I mean.

A

They can benefit from it too so, but if we need someone to take the lead, I know who to call now so.

F

Sure that I can accomplish it or not yeah I.

A

A couple a few months ago they weren't interested, and now they are so I don't.

A

Know what changed their mind, but it's just a change of personnel. That's what changed.

F

Their mind well, there's there's lots of federal money sitting at the state level that the state.

A

Wants to give out to us so with a little work yeah, I think once we get parent karen buffard.

F

You know she'll do what uh she's gonna be there saturday heartbeat just for the asking.

A

Yeah she's on historical commission. Her office is right next to the cemetery yep.

A

She's going to be there saturday too, so um I'm sure she would be happy to get the ball rolling.

A

But again the point is: there's a lot of federal money sitting up there. The state is working.

A

Really hard they worked with myself and with eva I mean they just they almost fill out the forms for.

A

You because they really do want to give out the money. So um I think once we get into the swing.

A

Of things going forward, it will be very easy, but um we might as well take advantage of it so that.

A

That fewer people that we have to knock down at their doors, to get them to donate the big money. So.

A

Any other questions or there's a quick one. Yes, um so talking about sharing it to get people involved.

D

Do we have things like instagram and snapchat and social medias, where you're not yet not yet.

D

We're looking for something to to post saturday's a great opportunity to post yep and videos.

D

Instagram is really where you're gonna get a lot of attention from anyone who's yeah. So we've done.

D

A lot of before pictures, and so we're hoping to pair those up with after cleaning pictures. And you.

D

Know maybe um you know starting an instagram page or or doing something like that, but.

A

And again, suzanne is that something that we can go ahead and do um you can do it on your own.

C

um You know you can use your own accounts um in terms of what you you know post for pictures from.

C

The event of the day, there's no issue with that in terms of the city site, if you get pictures to.

C

Stephanie, I'm sure she'd be interested in pushing out some messaging on it. So but weren't you asking.

C

If you can, if we can make one for you, can we do an instagram cemetery committee, instagram page.

A

Or I have never been on our facebook page or we can talk about it. I will take it up work. You know.

C

We don't really other than stephanie we. It tends to be a bit fragmented in how we set up pages.

C

And social media accounts, so public works has some and parking has, you know, has their tweets for snow.

C

And we have in the budget actually a request to have someone in the city manager's office. Who can.

C

Do more of this and coordinate more of this because, right now it really just as there is.

C

Kind of bandwidth and true need um because of that it's you know it takes a body to monitor it and.

C

And post to it and stephanie's only part-time. Oh, I didn't know that.

C

So I think we can have volunteers that are willing to do a lot of the legwork on that I.

D

Guess it's just what are we allowed to do right now? So if it's going to be a formal, you know.

C

Cemetery committee, then we'd want to sign off on it work with stephanie.

D

All right, okay and yeah: well, let's talk about it then, because yeah we can figure it out.

D

Yeah and right yeah so right now I'd say it would be helpful to know. Let's see what happens with the.

C

Budget, because that will tell us whether we've got you know a warm body, we'll have more bandwidth to.

C

Work with not only your committee but other committees um to work on this messaging and how to.

C

You know get more word out different platforms. Can we officially start fundraising corporations and.

A

Stuff nick was all gung-ho about that. Oh you're welcome to ask anyone. You want to put money in.

C

That you know in the truck well, no I mean I know we decided to push it back a little bit, but that's.

A

You know going to the uh the chamber, co-op and- and you know, hitting up some of these developers and.

A

Things like that, because he told me that there have been developers that were interested in.

A

Putting their name to something down at the north cemetery so.

A

You know because they're building there and let's make this a gem, so I I just don't want to.

A

Do something out of bounds yeah? What they? Because you said, the naming thing and I.

C

Wasn't sure the context just recognized that the city council controls naming rights for.

A

Oh, I mean like they. They give us five thousand dollars. We get to post somewhere that you know the.

A

Hotel marriott gave us five thousand dollars for north cemetery, restoration, we'll leave it up for.

A

I don't know six months or whatever that type of thing yeah. We can talk about publicity yeah when.

C

When we get donations, but that's again, that has to be managed.

C

um And all donations that come into the city do get ex formally accepted by the city council. So.

C

When you look at their agendas, there's sometimes a long list of five bucks here and 10 bucks here.

C

35 right, you know this stuff, so so that's why that's why cash is also hard because you usually.

C

Are formally accepting grants and donations uh on behalf of the city yeah so and when they come in.

C

Electronically, it's a lot easier to do that yeah. Well, I know no, I guess my response was for my what.

A

I was looking for in response to trying to sell it to someone. You know they, you know giving them.

A

Recognition outside of just well, you know at a city council meeting, they accepted their funds.

C

We can we can talk about how, particularly if there are other events that you're.

C

That you can acknowledge them, and you know it's it's just we're careful on how much signage.

C

Where? Because the city council ultimately decides any naming rights and it's always a challenge.

C

You know we do things at leary field, you know there are. There are opportunities, I think it's a.

C

Conversation we can take outside of the committee about how we can come up with. You know, appropriate.

C

Acknowledgement pieces and there's certainly a lot of gratitude in how you find a way to capture.

C

That and express it. I think that's what we'll just have to noodle out a doctor's cemetery yeah like I.

C

Said there are there are there are ways that we do that? It's just a question of. I don't have a.

C

Good answer for you: no, that's fine! Just bring it up, so we all get an idea of. What's what I'm sorry.

A

What motion to adjourn are we ready to go yeah? Yes, second, in okay, all right all those invites.

E

So we'll see you saturday, okay, does any do.