City of Portsmouth, New Hampshire Cemetery Committee, 1 Dec 2022

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From YouTube: 12.1.2022 Cemetery Committee

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12.1.2022 Cemetery Committee

A

So it's obvious, we don't have a quorum, but that's all right. We can still have a meeting.

A

um So we should still do a roll call. So um michael are you here, michael griffin, present.

B

uh Eva boys present don margison present uh susan starry president.

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um And on zoom is carrie rubenstein and also celeste brooks.

A

And here so um we can't vote on anything, but we certainly can discuss all we would like to do so.

A

So that takes care of approval of minutes from last month table that to the next meeting, yeah.

A

um Donation updates, we have some in the pipeline, so hopefully next time we'll be.

A

Able to report more on those, but our 150 one in our 50 one went through right. They were.

A

Approved by city council yeah, they were approved by the city council and on this upcoming agenda.

C

Will be an additional donation um from carrie rubenstein? That's all teed up for acceptance.

D

We'll move on to update on moose plate paperwork. So did I say something sure.

E

Oh sure, yeah absolutely I mean I'm just I'm just thinking it would be great. You know what.

E

I'm doing is a wiring or will be wiring once it's approved an ira distribution to the city.

E

And it just seems like that would be something we should think about with other donors as to.

E

um You know it allows me not to pay taxes on that income if it goes directly to the charitable or.

E

The town, so it's something to think about in terms of the selling point for future donations. Thank.

A

You yeah, I didn't realize that either. So that is a good point to bring up to people going forward. So.

E

Yes, everybody's, looking at your end, what are they going to do to reduce their taxes and.

A

Maybe we could put something for them. We could put legal notice in the paper if you'd like to.

A

It's the end of the year for the city- oh well, not for the city, but again thank you. Carrie for for.

A

That, and for the passing on the information about, is that a new rule, or is that or fairly reason.

A

No no okay! I mean I always questioned it when I, when I guess suzanne raised that.

E

It was tax deductible and finally, I did some research and talked to my accountant and they.

E

um The rule is basically, if you don't get any personal benefit from it. Anything you donate from.

E

To the city is tax deductible, if it was something like where you've got something for it personally,.

E

Then that's not productive. Oh okay, good to know you've made it as an expert, um and I carry just to.

C

Flush that out, I think the other point that was important is that by wiring it directly from a.

C

uh Your ira require account to the city there's no moment at which it becomes taxable in your hands.

C

Exactly oh, okay, yeah! So that's why the wiring it doesn't go through like her checking or whatever.

A

And then come come to so she doesn't have to report that I got. I got two thousand dollars and.

C

Then it goes out, it's it's straight through well, it's good to know seriously um give the update.

A

Yes, update on the moose plate paperwork yep. So as we discussed at the last meeting, the city council.

C

Did accept the moose plate grant I have the des uh or not the ds. I have the documentation to sign.

C

For the um for the acceptance of the grant, so I just need to actually print it and sign it. The.

C

Old-Fashioned way because it comes as a pdf, um but that's no problem. I took a quick skim at the terms.

C

And conditions, and it should be fine. In addition, um public works is reaching out to riverside.

C

Pickering marine to see you know if they need to up, because the proposal now is a bit out of date.

C

um To see how close they are to the original, so we are reaching out right now.

C

um Coren's going to start that process because of course he was involved initially, but we are.

C

Bringing on um a couple new people at public works we're finally being able to fill a couple of.

C

Vacancies, so it may be that corn will be handing this off to a new person who has construction.

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Background experience, so that is in the works, which is to get the updated um estimate see if.

C

It's still close enough in line. We have had some conversation because we have a city project that.

C

Is moving slowly but is moving to deal with some outfalls or put in some new outfalls, and so when.

C

We get the proposal from the new updated proposal, we're going to evaluate whether it makes sense.

C

To recommend like doing the phase one, but how we might address the permitting, knowing that it we.

C

Had two stages to this proposal, it was going to be stage one to get the you know the easy work.

C

Done if you will the the boulders back and reset the wall, but then we had that second stage, which.

C

Is more see, you know more invasive and more um there's a lot of erosion. It's never been.

C

Exactly and there's going to be more construction and more disturbance. That's what I'm looking for.

C

So we're going to look at that once we get the updated proposal to see, does it make sense.

C

To wrap some of that into our other outfall work that we know is coming, so we figured we'll.

C

See what we get, what the numbers look like and then um you know kind of go forward if we need.

C

To consult back with the committee, we will, but that's where things stand, which is we're.

C

Moving it forward the only kind of caveat we'll talk a little bit about when we get to the point.

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Of graves is if the proposal cost turns out to be a lot higher, we'll have to consider whether.

C

To try and get a second or third one just to for a competitive processes. On the other hand, it's.

C

The company that we often work with because they are in this area, they're familiar with.

C

It they tend to give us the most competitive prices. You know we use them, often for other.

C

City work so we're just going to wait and see what we get okay and then kind of evaluate, but.

C

That's in process- and you may have a different face to interface with um as we go forward, but.

C

So I'll look in I'm looking good yeah, so my only comment is and it's changed since then. I couldn't.

A

Get anybody else to come and look because they said it was way too small and a project.

A

For them, so that has been our experience, which is why we'll wait to see what they give us, but.

C

Yeah, but sometimes just doing that extra due diligence by making a phone call. Then when we go.

D

To bring it through financing, we have that yep. We made a few more calls to see if anyone else wanted.

C

To propose on it and they didn't so, and I would think this would be the time I should bring up.

A

That the second half down in there there's possibilities that there could be remains there.

A

Because there are several headstones that have been buried, they're turned upside down and unless.

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You're really looking you don't know that there are headstones there. So I I don't know what that's.

A

Going to mean to anything, but that that would mean first when we go to scope out stage, two there's.

C

Definitely an archaeological example exactly. I knew that so that, regardless of whether pickering.

A

Does it or the city does it and I'm not sure I mean it, it may be possible the way it's. No. You.

A

Can't because there's one that's right down there, no it's going to be an issue or could be part of.

A

Whatever's going to take place, so it doesn't, does won't the state archeology people. Did they charge.

B

Us you yeah, they do, we don't use them, we have to find a local dependent, yes and there are, and the.

A

Cities worked with some of them locally. That's why state I'm so glad! I asked that's why it's been an.

A

Issue with uh correcting the headstones, because it's not free, you have to hire somebody. Okay, yeah.

A

So more grant ready yeah yeah, but that's down the road so um update on edits for the rack.

A

Card yep, so um we heard back from valerie cunningham uh from the black heritage trail.

C

um uh With regard to the draft- and she had just a minor uh suggestion- change to this little section.

C

And I didn't print because it was color and yeah trying to trying to not over print right. But you.

C

Remember in the rack card there was this little blurb at the bottom, which is really.

C

Hard to read, if it's not up on your computer screen, oh yeah, if the red card is this size.

D

We'll look at it together, okay sure, but she suggested.

C

um Changing some of the language to formally enslaved africans.

C

um Which um stephanie secor did make that change? She was ava was kind of looped into that.

C

um And stephanie has down underneath where it says: okay, you can hardly see it yeah and I guess.

C

So that was two things, so I we stephanie did go out and get costs for vistaprint.

C

And hold on, I have that here. Where did I shuffle it? I got it right here. It was very, I thought, cost.

C

Effective okay, uh vistaprint uh for ninety five dollars. You get 500 for a hundred and twenty.

C

Dollars you get a thousand, so that seemed to make more sense to us to order just the.

C

Thousand, we would take it out of our historic cemeteries fund, so we thought that was fine. I.

C

And I wanted to just come and update you make sure you're good with a thousand and then when.

C

I actually printed this off and thought. Well if this is the size, the actual size of the rack card.

C

Given that it's very hard to read that little bit, I wanted to give you an opportunity, are.

C

You good with it the way it is or do you want ava to kind of work with stephanie and and and.

D

I went around if the picture can be diminished a bit and then the fonts changed a little bit to.

B

Make it it is really small. That's why, if you're, okay working with stephanie to take it, but the.

C

Committee is relatively okay with um you know, we thought a thousand made sense for that price.

C

Difference, oh yeah yeah. I would. I would agree with that. If we're going to put it on there, we.

A

Should make it at least readable, with glasses on so yeah yeah, and that makes sense to could.

A

Shift everything up a little bit too the the picture. I love the picture, but I don't. I don't.

B

Think it serves the purpose to have such small print right exactly all right. So so, if it's your.

C

Okay, ava I'll, have you working stephanie? Yes, of course, and just know when you guys are okay, we're.

C

We're good okay good to go great and we'll aim for them. Take care of that soon then yep.

A

Michael our celestine carrier, you all right with that. Did you hear I can't really see it so right.

E

um I it sounds good to me it it's smaller than on an aspirin bottle. Let's put it that way. That's.

A

That's a good comparison, most people, so um it would be just some adjustments and you know maybe.

A

Like eva said, um you know making a picture shrink it and things like that. How about you celeste.

E

Okay, I I'm with gary, I can't see but yeah that sounds good yeah yeah. There are no major changes.

A

From the last time when everybody saw it so, okay, that sounds good, okay and I'm glad valerie was.

A

Happy with it, um I talked to joanna one time. I ran into her our city councilor, and she was really.

A

Happy that um you know we they had thought of, including them in the process um going forward. So.

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um And probably someday you know, maybe um I spoke to her about that too. Maybe one or two people from.

A

Their committee could join this committee or whatever, but that's down the because there are.

A

A number of not everyone is slaves in some of these cemeteries, but there is a lot of black.

A

Heritage in all of our cemeteries so, but they also have wisdom about the process. You know they went.

B

Through things themselves, when they were trying to get the burial ground right going yeah, so if they.

B

Have some wisdom that we don't have right so um so that's down the line, hopefully after the holidays,.

A

um Update on funny graves okay, so we wait public works and has been.

C

Looking at the westin and samson proposal and and kind of looking at all of the.

C

The other work that we're seeing we're probably going to need to to do in that area, because.

C

Originally, we were leaning towards weston and samson, trying to hook it into when they were.

C

Already on site for prescott park, because there's work obviously scheduled for prescott park, so we.

C

Were trying to leverage that and um and so then we've been, you know, we've got a lot of projects.

C

Because we're working on the capital improvement plan and the dot plan, because there's a bridge.

C

Out there, as you know, that is going back on the list, um uh because the goal was to you.

C

Know get 10 more years out of it, but eventually that bridge needs the bridge. Abutments will be.

C

um Replaced replaced and we're all looking at climate change and we're, as you know, we're.

C

Also doing climate action plan so and kind of evaluating this, the conversation we were having.

C

um Just the other day, given all of these pieces is maybe it would make sense to.

C

um Two things: first, we thought maybe we'd reach out to other firms and just see what a little.

C

Bit of you know less testing, but just enough to kind of understand is there maybe a 10-year.

C

Fix for the wall, just you know, because you know how we didn't want to put too much money into it.

C

um And so knowing that we've got new staff coming on board, who will have some bandwidth.

C

To pick up some of these projects and give them a new look, maybe you know sometimes people come.

C

With a different lens, different experience, different connections, yeah yeah- that maybe we.

C

We take a look at. Is there some cost-effective? You know investment we could make in the wall.

C

While we then, as part of a more comprehensive plan for that whole area, because you know you.

C

The water is going to go somewhere so if you're, building walls or you're, you know.

C

And go around the walls, or does it go more to other structures, so we were trying to give it a.

C

Fresh look from a coordinated point of view, but we want to do something with the walls, so we thought.

C

With new staff coming on board a maybe we kind of reach out kind of see, do we do some testing, but.

C

Maybe it's a smaller scope of testing to see what we could do safely and cost effectively to get the.

C

Walls in good shape and then make sure that the point of graves is considered as part of that.

C

Bigger plan right, which is going to have the more substantial testing and look at the climate change.

C

Impacts because we're already looking at them for that whole area- and we know we've got more work.

C

Right not too far down the pike like if we can come up with a good 10-year. Maybe it's not quite.

C

As beautiful, but uh you know, get us some stability for some of those walls and then you know, do a.

C

Larger project, so that's what we were thinking is use some of our new staff to take another look at.

C

It and kind of really plan out the other. You know look at the other work that we know is happening.

C

To try and maximize the the value, because we know with cost construction costs that we're seeing.

C

We know funds are going to be tight, so we're trying to really think okay, what's the really best.

C

Use and maybe there's a like- I said, a short-term fix, but we know it's short term with the intention.

C

That there's a longer term view of protecting that whole area. Frankly, right, I, uh the friends of south.

A

End, I sort of already planted the seed that it may not be doable to rebuild that the section.

A

That's really sunk down and that we certainly could repair the other half so had I already.

A

You know when I uh so I've planted the seed when it first came up. I said we have to have.

A

Tested we have to do this, we have to do that before we just throw out. You know thousands.

A

Of dollars of money to see if it's even worthwhile, so we certainly could get bids on.

A

um The wall- that's there really is not worth saving, um even the one, that's around it, but it.

A

Is the original? There certainly is a way to. I forgot what they call it, but overspray it.

A

Again, it's well right over spray. It again the original wall will be there and that overspray.

A

Is quite old too, so that's part of the history of it now I mean I'm being serious. It's part of.

A

The history of it yep, so we could certainly do that. I mean because that lower section.

A

I would just want to I want to like I wish we could have a dipstick and just drill a hole and.

A

Put a dipstick down and find out if there's water there, that was kind of our thought, it may be kind.

C

Of a two-prong, so a smaller skinnier scope to get some a little bit of information to help inform a.

C

And buy a temporary fix, I'm thinking it's a 10 to 20 30 year lasting fix, well, the bigger.

C

What do we do about? The changing water levels? Is the um you know, here's the end.

A

Of the cemetery, here's the bridge yep that whole wall is being redone. Is that what I'm.

A

Hearing well, like I said, we're taking a fresh okay, I mean there is a master plan right, yeah.

C

But there are elements of that that, as we learn more every day and as you look.

C

At the other projects that we've got in the pipeline, do you adjust elements of that? Do.

C

You go back and and say: okay well, based on what we know today, it's a little different from what.

C

We knew even five years ago so do we need you know you don't stay with a plan if conditions.

C

Have changed if you need to take another look, then you start a process to take another look.

C

um And it may be yep, okay, it still works, and then we add elements to it or oh. This might need a.

C

Little of an adjustment, because there are things happening that we didn't know you know, looks.

C

Different today than it than it did before, so I think that's we'd like to give it the fresh look.

C

But so we have new the person we have in mind. Who might pick this up, I think, is starting the 12th.

C

So give that person a couple of weeks to get their feet on the ground, but we thought this person.

C

Coming in might have um be a good, fresh energy to take a look at this. Are they an engineer or close.

C

Lots of experience, lots of experience, um but not not an engineer, but a lot of good.

C

Experience a nice yeah, you don't have to be a doctor to be able to do yeah. You know because.

C

They're great nurse practitioners yeah, it's like that in the construction side, you know you might.

C

Not have the degree but boy, you know how to solve a problem and how to manage a contract.

C

So cool I'm actually relieved by what you're saying, because I always thought that.

B

Point with graves could be, like the you know, the orphan child, or something in a project with a.

B

Scope, I mean it's all there and one geographical location and- and my only concern I don't it's not.

B

A big one is that, 20 years down the road, when you know the master plan is in function that somebody.

B

Who isn't here today is going to look at the point of grave's wall and say well, it's good enough for.

B

Now- and you know, they're not they're not going to include it as we anticipate that they will.

C

So I guess you'll have to keep nourishing and bringing on members for this committee exactly.

C

To share well, like I said you bring in the next the next ingredient. How fast are you listening.

B

I'm here that you're, the next generation you're the next generation. um Okay, so I'll keep you.

C

Updated at the next meeting, hopefully I'll, have another update uh because probably be beginning.

C

Of january, we'll, maybe that person can even come to the meeting. So what I am happy to hear about.

A

Is that point of graves is going to be part of the consideration going forward yeah it never should.

A

Have been left out well, I'd say shouldn't, but if you don't have an advocate you're not going to be.

A

On the stage, so I'm really glad about glad about that and we can always get. You know. Estimates for.

A

The rest of the while so and I know there was a big concern about all the power lines or the.

A

Utilities underneath and everything so it sounds great that was part of the is we kind of were.

C

Easing out the scope and thinking yeah, just I mean I just want to dipstick yeah michael, do.

A

You have any comments or no, not necessarily it's it's very fluid situation, so yeah, but.

A

But I mean everything: sounds your construction guy. Everything sounds makes sense to you.

F

Keep the process moving yeah! Okay, do you have anything to yeah? Okay, all right.

A

Ladies, are you all set we'll just table this and see what comes back in january.

D

Yep, okay, good! There's, I'm really trying not to forget zoom, so you yeah um the next one goes to.

A

um Signage for the cemeteries um both for dogs and the what time of day we can use the cemetery yep.

C

So um public works is working on mocking up some language related to the dog laws. You know leash.

C

And and pick up waste and and trying to find some way to use some language and that talks.

C

About respect, you know, like tried a flag that this is a really special place, so they were gonna. Try.

C

And mock up something that we could look at um and then I did as as I reported talked to.

C

um The police chief to kind of get his thoughts on the dawn to dusk and, and it was interesting.

C

He had a little different view because- and I was cognizant celeste of kind of what you brought to.

C

The table, um namely the concern that you know, because it gets dark at 4, 30., that there are.

C

um Some members of the community that do like to walk in in some of the cemeteries at night.

C

Or comfortable or if it's a moonlit night, you know there's plenty of light um and um and how.

C

The police would need to respond and the police chief was sensitive. I think very rightly so. He I.

C

Thought he had a really good point he's like yeah. We do try and use discretion, but, on the other hand,.

C

They have to be careful because you don't want to look like you're being discriminatory right and.

C

How you're applying that dawn to dusk, in the sense that you really want to you know if someone's.

C

There in the evening- and they shouldn't be there because the signage is clearly, you know, dawn to.

C

Dusk, you need to apply the law evenly right and move everyone along, and that goes and- and I was.

C

Like I said sensitive to the conversation that you had at the last meeting, so I wanted to share.

C

That with you that his perspective was you know if, if we're going to sign it and and there are a.

C

Lot of cemetery we had this conversation. A lot of cemeteries in the area are dawn to dusk. You know.

C

um So it's not unusual in any sense the um word and- and I wanted to report that back so I didn't.

C

Talk to the city manager yet um and- and it was also very busy so by the time I got mark's input.

C

um There wasn't a lot of spaciousness to have this conversation, so I thought I'd share. It.

C

And would it be appropriate to reach out to the animal control officer if, in fact,.

F

This sign has some meaning because she's pretty tenacious um down the south cemetery throw people.

F

Out yeah yeah I I can certainly do that. I know I know we all. I think, there's unanimity that.

C

Signage with regard to the dog, waste and being dogs being on leash would be probably helpful.

C

Because people may not realize that those laws still apply to the cemetery, so so we were all.

C

Kind of like yeah that makes at a minimum. Let's do that and we talked about where to place the.

C

Signage, maybe find some signage, that's a little more. I don't want to say attractive, but you know.

C

We have different ways of making signage and some of it or you know if it's just a.

C

You know a road sign, it's a little different than something that's going to be at the cemetery.

C

um So that's why we wanted to mock something up and kind of get your your view on it. So.

C

I think that reminding people about the rules related to dogs and cemeteries there seem to be.

C

Good common ground that that really made sense to remind people and see if that solves the problem,.

C

Right is: are we limited by the size of the sign, because once you start saying respectful, I mean.

A

Using the fact that these are both designated historic cemeteries, you know please be respectful.

A

Because you know that's why we wanted to bring a mock-up, because we were, we were trying to.

C

Decide you know, as we were kind of just talking it out, would it be helpful to make a a bigger.

C

Sign that kind of talks about etiquette, if you will right um or otherwise encourage appropriate.

C

Behavior in the in the cemetery, um with reference to the law, just to let people.

C

Know yeah: this is real, um particularly with regards to dog waste and dogs being on leash.

C

um So and truthfully, I, I never even thought of the approach that way, but the respectfulness.

A

I mean you can thank corn for that. That was his word. Oh those public works folks. They are, they.

C

They get a lot of good thinking going on over there, so she yeah, I mean it makes total sense. I.

A

Mean we went through the problem, not us, but I mean the city's gone through the whole process to get.

A

Them on registries and everything, and because they are important, then reminding people respectfully.

A

Yep hey this is, I think, that's a great idea. If what works out, if it works for you, um I will.

C

Continue to kind of chase this down a little bit like I said I didn't have a chance to talk to the.

C

City manager, um I can come in with oh, you know by the january meeting a mock-up for you to look for.

C

um And then we can think a little bit more I'll see if she has a strong view.

C

Of the dawn to dusk, you know right view um and I'll see if I get any other input I'll.

C

Kind of reach out to the animal control officer and and others.

C

um But I wanted to share I'm wondering just out loud. I thought. Okay, I'm wondering how.

A

Many people we would be appeasing by putting dawn to dusk instead of cameras.

A

As opposed to not putting anything at all, you know what I mean do we really have to do.

A

This because a handful of people have asked, and I'm not just respecting them, I'm just.

A

You know another thing to consider. I I don't know so right. We, you know that.

C

You're trying to we have you know, issues of vandalism that occur. uh You know throughout the.

C

City- and you always have to weigh that you know- is this really going to solve that particular issue?.

C

Of concern and how does that impact others who use or visit the same space right um and there.

C

Are pros and cons to that there isn't always a right answer: they're, just trade-offs right.

C

um And we know we know, cameras are not really feasible or the right solution there and it may be.

C

You know part of it is like I know we were gonna, do some cleaning up and that might help.

C

um And you know so, there could be a look at all the pieces that yeah. If we don't get a lot.

A

Of snow they're gonna go down in there because they'll have time to uh you know, do some extra.

A

Stuff they don't do during the year is that I'm is everybody fine with that, we'll just wait and.

C

I'll report back in january, with hopefully a mock-up and any other information I get.

A

Just a quick story: I have to share this about um sagamore. I was in sagamore cemetery. This.

A

Was a few weeks ago, a month- and I had my five-year-old grandson with me and.

A

We're walking through the cemetery and this dog came running up to us and then this man.

A

Came walking up my grandson before, I could say anything said no dogs in the cemetery [laughter].

A

I know the griffins and- and I said I said, he's just five he's designed to post it and that's.

A

The van you know what what he's taught is to obey the rules and the guy sort of hopped and went on.

A

But before I could even say anything, there are no dogs in the cemetery, so anyway people still do it.

A

A

uh Oh, the new hampshire state registry of historic places, sign markers, that's what um I think you.

A

Both you, ladies probably in your paperwork at home, it's the um sign that we could put up for.

A

um Union cemetery that acknowledges it that it's on the new hampshire state registry and just the.

A

Metal sign is fifty dollars and I don't know how much the other sign would um the granite post. I.

A

Mean the city might even have a granite post or something that it could be used. um It sort of.

A

Got lost in the shuffle, so I um wanted to just bring it up real quickly. We need some sort of.

A

Signage there to let people know, I think the only signs there now are the the blue boards and then.

A

There is a the sign for north cemetery. Is there, but there's nothing right there for to say that.

A

um Union is on the new hampshire state registry, so I mean ideally, we could even.

A

Attach this to that beautiful wall, that's on the outside. I don't know what we'd want to do, but.

A

um Just food for thought, maybe for next time we really should.

A

Find it something: why don't I? um Why don't I take this and I will talk to public works and see what.

C

They think we we do sometimes have pieces of granite. I like that yeah um in you know you.

C

Know from other projects right um I mean, obviously it would have to be set properly, but um um let me.

C

Let me talk to public works about that: okay, okay, there's a big pile of granite out on constitution;.

F

Yep you're just looking to get rid of them: oh okay, okay, that sounds great. Some nice stuff there yeah.

A

um Headstone, oh well, let's this is you, ladies won't be able to see it. It's only.

A

About headstones that I cleaned personally, we have been getting um requests from out of state.

A

To check on headstones and you know, send pictures back or clean them, or what have you.

A

um I did the city got it not made, the city got it and they they valerie forwarded. Unto me.

A

um There was a family that had some in-ground headstones at calvary cemetery and when they.

A

Called calvary, they were told that they just don't have enough help to go out and clean.

A

Headstones or bring them back up or what have you and that maybe they should contact the city so.

A

They did um I I spoke to them um very nice people from florida. I was able to find their headstones.

A

And I was able to clean them, so it was not a a big. You know big process or anything like that.

A

um But I just wanted everybody to be aware that we are getting those kinds of requests and I didn't.

A

Contact calvary because I didn't want to set any kind of precedent that it would just go run out.

A

There and clean headstones if they got a phone call if we got a personal email to us, that's.

A

One thing um and the other thing when it came up when I was doing this yeah suzanne, if you could.

A

Go to the headstones they're right past, there's a couple of these yeah for a second. I panicked.

A

um Because I didn't realize that in-ground headstones like this one, has a lot of moss on it.

A

Way more than even some of the bigger ones, and if you can go to the next one, there were four of them.

A

um That didn't have that much. He I think he was on the iowa that one.

A

Was just saturated with moss and then the next one I think and that's the fourth one.

A

um And I, if you go back to two, I think so I lost the phone right there. This one no.

A

Sorry, yes, sorry, I'm too fast yeah, that's! Okay! Come on there. We go this one right.

A

Here when that that's dry- and I panicked- and I thought what have I done to this headstone.

A

um You know all the different colorations and everything where it's black was caked on dirt.

A

And all of them were like that are not the one that was raised, but all the ones that.

A

Were in the ground had after I took all the moss and lykanov, and I cleaned it with the d2.

A

It just had like a thin layer where all the like it and everything had so. I had.

A

To go back through and for some reason, the finished products. The pictures didn't come.

A

Out so I went back through sprayed these and took the scraper, and so now the whole.

A

Headstone or the like, it's still a headstone is um clean and it's all.

A

The marble that's there, but I really panicked and it really made me stop to think um you know.

A

I don't know you know what damage I really could do to them, but it did give me pause for the thing.

A

But I did it personally, so I don't think yeah. This is carrie yep. So it's very nice that you did this.

E

For these people- and I'm wondering, should we be charging for this and having somebody else do.

E

It, or at least getting some fee, I mean you did a lot of work and and what, if we get more of these.

E

Requests in the early one person, or only a small committee right, but I'm.

E

Just thinking you know, because we had some of my relatives graves queen in the sent private.

E

Senator it costs a lot of money yeah. um I I thought about that carrie and what I.

A

um I don't think that's uh yeah, I don't yeah. I don't think that's a bad idea if we start to.

A

Get a whole lot more and they're bigger and more time consuming then yeah. I think you're absolutely.

A

Right but I again we'd have to run it by the city because I wouldn't want to take on the.

A

um What the liability would be for the city, you know, I don't want to get everybody into.

A

Hot water because I cleaned a headstone, but I I yes, I think that should be in our our thoughts.

A

And going forward to consider that if we start getting more and more because we gotta michael.

A

Happened to clean that headstone, it was already clean, but we got someone else that wanted um me to.

A

Check on their headstone- and we did but michael had already cleaned the whole family anyway. So.

A

um And then there was another woman from dar that contacted. She was down in texas.

A

Too, so um no, I think that's a good idea and the other point I want to make out about this. I did.

A

This on a saturday when it was exactly 45 degrees and it was extremely windy, so the d2 really works.

A

You know some people really were concerned that I didn't, if you I don't know, which way.

A

But some of the other ones that came out really well, that was all done on a 45 degree day. So I.

A

Can testify that we can do them on um a cold day, but I'll make note on our agenda. To put it.

A

In other notes about charging in the future, I I my recommendation for a donation or a donation.

A

Yeah that that was going to be my that that's what I would do is just you know. That's true.

C

Suggest and- and I really worries about fundraising- didn't even think about tony.

C

um And sometimes it can it can help if you suggest a range yeah. You know.

C

Because you don't know their their means, but he's you know.

C

And and send them the link and just say that's a great idea. I don't know what I just.

C

I'm happy to do this volunteer act of kindness for you. Would you please support our efforts.

D

A

Okie dokie, um so, okay, on that I just wanted to everybody, know that we are.

A

Facing someone, if we go back to the green door yep this door's on.

A

um Up on south street uh that you, ladies can't see, but it is falling apart, and this.

A

Is the latest picture originally a month ago, the bottom bar wasn't coming off as badly as it is now.

A

um And peter rice is aware of this: I don't know if he's contacted you or anything or did you ever.

A

Get a price from andy: no, he he never showed or called or anything so and I andy crota, the welder.

A

Right, yeah yeah, he told me he went and looked at it. So I can, I can maybe he sent it to peter.

D

Well, I asked him when I I saw peter at the you know, dangle the carrot if peter's got something.

F

Else in mind right well, I asked I saw peter at the veterans day celebration down at the park and he.

A

Said I mentioned andy's name, he goes I'll, take care of it. So and then he said something about.

A

You he goes um so I thought he was gonna. um You know contact you, I think he said. Does michael.

A

Know about it or something, and I said yeah he's aware of it, so he and that you gave me andy's.

A

Name when I see him I'll ask him what he's got in mind, but okay, it definitely needs to be done. Yeah.

A

Before and it could it could yeah all right, so that's all set um that sounds signage. Oh did you.

A

Have a chance to look into this signage that you, yes or no michael yeah, dick adams, myself.

F

John shagden and kevin macleod have all bought into this um and teddy connors as well he's.

F

A trustee of the perpetual care society funds they'd like to move forward with it, I'm still.

F

ah Looking for some input as to what type of signs and where would they be located.

A

They didn't have any specific um one at the main gate similar to.

F

The ones that are scattered around portsmouth and is that an independent.

F

Contractor that you work with this one down on the middle pond, causeway there's.

F

Wanted to know a cemetery, oh you mean the blue. I have the name of the company yeah that did that.

A

Envision that at the main gate, but then, as you transfer us through the cemetery.

F

Letting people know they're going from one section to another. I don't know if.

F

It'll confuse people, but I would richard I mean dick worked on that with richard candy.

A

Those signs recently, no, they were whether they're 10 or 15 years old, richard candy.

A

Told me they did those signs in groups of five for about six years and went all over town. But.

A

um Yeah and richard was on the yes board or whatever, but he also, he probably wrote them.

F

Up, yeah and and dick was on it too, so I can get you the name of the company that yeah that would.

F

Be nice, if you know I don't want to leave teddy connors. That was one of his current wishes and.

A

What's he doing, he has cancer yeah how's he doing pancreatic cancer is a tough one, yeah, so yeah.

A

um Okay, I'll get you the name, it's a company out of canada, because the process is so toxic.

A

They won't make home in the united states, but you see it all over the place. Okay, the.

A

The poly, what they use and they come in different colors and I've seen them.

A

All over the country, you know usually at historic sites and a lot of estate sites and stuff.

A

um But that's why they're made in canada because how toxic they are to make not once they're out.

A

In the public, so all right I'll push the process along. Okay name of sign company.

A

And they did that under the sea uh city block grant. I believe.

A

um Other business, I don't have anything because I talked about the.

A

The gate I mean the door right there. That was the only thing I hadn't included on this um there's a.

A

Lot of stuff on this got a lot of irons in the fire, which is good because it's a slow process.

F

um I think max is waiting for the ground to freeze to get in there and take out several.

F

Of those dead trees between the ball field and the cotton cemetery- oh good, there are dead. There are.

A

A couple of really big dead, totally dead trees up there, it's a safety issue, they yeah the kids.

F

Sneak through there all the time so yeah and they're they're, big ones, it wouldn't take much.

A

Even though they're sort of secluded anybody else have any I've been pleased with max, he seems to.

E

100 went through december. um Does that automatically remove new for us or do.

E

We have a process for oh yeah. That was uh was that on our last meeting or the meeting.

A

Before I think it was a meeting before they're one year terms, yeah we're all together that we.

C

The same here as I recall right, it's not staggered listed now all right. Let me look.

C

Into that, and I can always send a communication to the whole committee as to whether you need.

C

To fill out an application, so I will, um I think that was one of the things that the governance.

A

um Meeting not just our community, but they were trying to right. Look at staggers right.

A

And see how they were going, I I yeah, I don't think last meeting but the meeting before so.

C

Okay, all right, let me let me look at that.

C

Thank you for bringing that up. Yeah really.

A

um Anything else.

A

Anybody win any money at the lottery.

A

All right: well, I we don't need to oppose it to motion to adjourn.

F

That's not gonna, give us five. Second, we're done.