While the state legislature works to correct deficiencies in a new state cemetery law (see sidebar), the town of Woolwich and the town’s private cemetery associations are talking about how they will work together, or not.

The state law passed in 2013 placed new responsibility on municipalities for preserving ancient burying grounds and veterans’ graves, but provided no funds to cover the additional costs.

“It’s costing some towns tens of thousands of dollars,” Woolwich Town Administrator Lynette Eastman said. “It’s not that we don’t want to take care of our veterans, but this is an unfunded mandate.”

Currently, Woolwich provides grave markers and flags for each of the 333 veterans and Revolutionary soldiers in its cemeteries, and maintains the two town-owned cemeteries.

Sixteen representatives from five cemetery associations met with Woolwich selectmen on Monday, March 24, to discuss how to collaborate under this year’s expected amendments to the state law. Woolwich’s cemetery associations, like its cemeteries, vary in their size and resources.

Selectman David King asked the group for their ideas on how the town and associations could work together.

Laurel Grove Cemetery Association, which first raised the new law’s requirements to the board, asked for town assistance with mowing costs, which are about $800 per year.

Tim Allen of Murphy’s Corner Cemetery Association said any mandate that required stone repair and replacement could overwhelm their association’s cash resources and force them to default. “If we have to spend a lot of money on stones, the cemetery would go back to the town,” Allen said.

Brian Wallace of Partridge Cemetery Association said uninsured volunteers working at the cemetery created a liability issue and wondered whether the town could help them obtain lower-cost insurance. Selectman David King said the town cannot insure anything it does not own.

As discussion turned to the possibility of setting up a sinking fund for headstone repair, Greg Doak of Riverside Cemetery offered a different view.

“The stones are private property. They belong to the people who buy them,” Doak said. “For our association, at this point, we would not be interested in getting the government involved. In the year 2014, we will keep it as it is and won’t ask the town for anything.”

By meeting’s end, discussion centered around the idea of the town providing an annual stipend, likely based on the number of veterans’ graves, to each cemetery association. There was also agreement that there is no interest in developing town standards for local cemeteries, beyond those mandated in state law.

“We’re going to take all of this under advisement,” King said. “Some time between now and town meeting, we will have to come up with a dollar amount for the warrant. You can then decide to draw on this fund or not.”