Select Board adopts cemetery fee increases and approves new cemetery rules

The Bow Select Board held a public hearing Jan. 13 on proposed changes to cemetery fees and related ordinance edits and, with no members of the public speaking, moved quickly to adoption.

Under the proposed changes to Town Code section 1-24-4, the board approved updated fees for grave openings (weekday and overtime rates) and cremains grave openings; the board’s motion to adopt the fee changes was made and seconded and carried by voice vote.

Later on the agenda, the board considered edits to ordinance 25‑06 (Town Code chapter 109) to prohibit alcohol consumption in town cemeteries. A motion to approve the ordinance edits passed by voice vote.

The board also approved a draft cemetery after‑hours access permit that will be finalized at a future meeting; members requested staff return with a clear process for issuance and enforcement.

Board discussion included confirming that burial services are provided by outside contractors (the town does not perform grave openings in-house), and one member urged periodically re‑bidding outside contractor work to ensure rates remain competitive.

The meeting record shows formal motions and voice votes for both the fee adoption and the ordinance edits. The permit’s operational details —who issues it, how applicants demonstrate need and how access is supervised—will be added to a future agenda.