Commission reports cemetery signs replaced, discusses Brigham Street trees and maintenance

The Northborough Historic District Commission said Feb. 18 that the town’s cemetery signs were replaced at no cost and will be rotated periodically to reduce sun fading.

Chair Bob Light told commissioners the old, warped signs were offered to the Historical Society; society members and commission members claimed the retired signs for preservation and display. "They look great," Light said of the new signs, and he told the commission he had asked DPW contact Scott to provide a bronze mock-up from the vendor before final installation.

Members also asked about tree plantings on Brigham Street and whether a small labyrinth or plantings could be added. Light said tree installations could proceed if leftover CPA project funds or ARPA-funded downtown tree-program stock were available; any plantings would avoid graves and require input from tree experts.

Why it matters: sign maintenance and selective plantings shape how historic burial grounds are presented and cared for; the commission is balancing conservation, aesthetics, and limits of existing funds.

Next steps: the commission will review the vendor mock-up from Crown Trophy, notify DPW about an annual sign-rotation plan, and follow up with town staff on potential tree resources for Brigham Street.