[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town of Sterling 3-18-1889 by Art. 17, approved 4-9-1889; readopted 5-14-2012 ATM by Art. 19, approved 10-11-2012. Amendments
noted where applicable.]
The cemeteries shall be in the charge of a committee
of three persons to be chosen by the Town as follows: at the first
annual meeting after the adoption of these bylaws, one for one year,
one for two years and one for three years; and at each annual meeting
thereafter one for three years.
It shall be the general duty of this Committee
to lay out all lots, to establish the price of all lots, sell the
same in such manner as they shall deem most for the interest of the
Town, receive the purchase money and expend the same in improvements
and care of the grounds. They shall keep a record of all lots sold
by them within the cemeteries, with the names of the owners thereof,
and they shall make a detailed report to the Town in writing annually
of their doings and of the state and condition of the cemeteries.
All lots shall be held subject to the provision
following and shall not be used for any other purpose than as a burial
place for the dead.
The proprietor of each lot shall have the right
to erect any proper stones, monuments or sepulchral stones thereon,
and to cultivate trees, shrubs and plants in the same, but no tree
growing in the lot or border shall be cut down without the consent
of the Committee.
If any tree or shrub situated in any lot shall,
by reason of their roots, branches or otherwise, become detrimental
to the adjacent lots or avenues, or dangerous or inconvenient to passersby,
unless the owner or occupant of said lots shall remove the same within
30 days after notice to that effect, it shall be the duty of the Committee,
and it shall have the right to enter upon said lot and remove the
said trees and/or shrubs, or such parts thereof as are detrimental,
dangerous or inconvenient.
If any monument, effigy, or enclosure, or any
structure whatever, or any inscription be placed in or upon any lot,
which shall be determined by the Committee to be offensive or improper,
or injurious to the appearance of the surrounding lots or grounds,
the Committee shall have the right, and it shall be its duty, to enter
upon such lot and remove the said offensive or improper object or
objects, after notice to the owner and his failure to remove as provided
in the preceding section.
No tomb shall be constructed within the grounds
except in such parts thereof as shall be designated by the Committee
for that purpose.
No horses or carriages shall be allowed to enter
the grounds except for burial purposes or to visit burial lots, without
permission of the Committee.
Any money or property which has been or may
be hereafter given to the Town or deposited with the Town Treasurer
for the care and preservation of burial lots in any of the public
cemeteries of the Town shall be invested where the same shall bear
income by and in the name of the Treasurer of the Town, subject to
the approval of the Select Board, unless otherwise specially provided.
The same income shall be paid annually by the Treasurer to the Cemetery
Committee, which shall expend the same as directed by the donors.
