Trustees approve $2,800 from maintenance fund to remove tree at Tuck Cemetery

Brentwood — The Brentwood Cemetery Trustees voted May 7 to authorize payment of $2,800 to cover contractor removal of two hazardous trees at Tuck Cemetery and to address wall damage related to the trees.

Chair described the work and proposed paying the invoice from the trustees' expendable capital reserve/maintenance fund, pending the trustees of the trust funds’ routine approval for debiting the account. "I would make a ... motion to expend $2,800 out of our maintenance fund to pay for that tree removal," the chair said. Trustee discussion confirmed the removal was necessary because branches and a rotted tree threatened the cemetery wall. Trustee Jillian produced the contractor's invoice and noted the total reflected an additional removed tree.

The trustees voted in favor. Chair and trustees asked that the trustees of the trust funds be looped in so the accounting entries can be completed correctly; the chair said payment will proceed and then be credited back from the trust fund if the trustees of the trust funds approve the expenditure under the fund's terms.

Trustees requested a copy of the invoice for their records and noted the town select board had been notified at a prior meeting. The chair said the town's cemetery ETF currently holds over $30,000 and that the $2,800 expense was within available balances but requires the normal two-step approval for trust funds.

The trustees also discussed longer-term wall maintenance concerns at Tuck Cemetery, including locating descendants and potential volunteer or monument-company assistance for wall repair, and agreed to follow up with the historical society and any descendant contacts.