THE TOWN OF BELLINGHAM - CEMETERY COMMITTEE AND SEXTONS
PRESS RELEASE
Scott Cemetery Columbarium Dedication
May 9, 2008
THE BELLINGHAM CEMETERY COMMITTEE AND SEXTONS IS HAPPY TO ANNOUNCE THE DEDICATION OF THE TOWN’S FIRST COLUMBARIUM LOCATED AT THE SCOTT CEMETERY ON CENTER STREET. THE DEDICATION OF THE COLUMBARIUM IS SCHEDULED FOR SUNDAY MAY 18, 2008 AT 11:15 AM. THE PUBLIC IS WELCOME TO ATTEND THE BRIEF DEDICATION CEREMONY.
A COLUMBARIUM IS AN ABOVE GROUND STRUCTURE THAT PROVIDES NICHES IN WHICH CREMATION URNS CAN BE PLACED. THE SCOTT CEMETERY COLUMBARIUM HAS FORTY-EIGHT INDIVIDUAL NICHES IN THE GRANITE FACED STRUCTURE. IT WAS CONSTRUCTED USING FUNDS TRANSFERRED FROM VARIOUS CEMETERY ACCOUNTS AT THE OCTOBER 2007 TOWN MEETING. THE COMMITTEE IS VERY GLAD TO HAVE MET THEIR GOAL OF COMPLETING THE PROJECT BEFORE THE TOWN’S 2008 MEMORIAL DAY CELEBRATION.
TWO BENCHES HAVE BEEN INSTALLED NEAR THE COLUMBARIUM. THESE WERE PURCHASED AS MEMORIALS BY A PRIVATE INDIVIDUAL TO REMEMBER A FAMILY MEMBER INTERNED AT SCOTT CEMETERY. THE COMMITTEE IS SEEKING OTHER DONATIONS FOR FLAG POLES, ADDITIONAL BENCHES, AND OTHER IMPROVEMENT AT THE TOWN CEMETERIES.
THE COMMITTEE REVISED THE CEMETERY REGULATIONS AT THEIR MEETING OF MAY EIGHTH TO ALLOW FOR THE SALE OF NICHES. COLUMBARIUM REGULATIONS ESTABLISHED IN THE REVISIONS TO REGULATIONS INCLUDE:
ESTABLISHMENT OF A FEE SYSTEM ($400 PER NICHE AND FEES FOR THE NICHE DOOR ENGRAVING)
A LIMIT OF NO MORE THAN TWO URNS WILL BE ALLOWED IN EACH NICHE
ENGRAVING OF GRANITE NICHE DOORS WILL BE DONE BY THE TOWN’S CONTRACTOR TO MAINTAIN CONSISTENCE OF APPEARANCE.
INDIVIDUALS INTERESTED IN PURCHASING GRAVESITES AT THE SCOTT CEMETERY ON CENTER STREET, THE CENTER CEMETERY ON MECHANIC STREET, OR COLUMBARIUM NICHES IN THE NEW SCOTT CEMETERY COLUMBARIUM, SHOULD CONTACT THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS AT 508-966-5812.
SIMILARLY, INDIVIDUALS INTERESTED IN DONATING FUNDS TOWARDS FURTHER IMPROVEMENTS AT TOWN CEMETERIES SHOULD CONTACT THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS.