[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town Board of the Town of Vernon 8-6-1990.
Amendments noted where applicable.]
The Town Board of the Town of Vernon believes that the practice of interment
of human remains on private property not set apart and recognized as a municipal,
religious or not-for-profit corporation cemetery may have severe ramifications;
i.e., original owners may have moved or died without providing for long-term
care of graves, leaving them unattended and neglected. They may create clouds
on title to these lands, making transfer of property difficult. Desecrations
may occur. The public may mistakenly expect that the Town will maintain and
preserve private burial grounds. Town Law § 291 clearly exempts
and prevents a Town from maintaining a private cemetery or a family burial
ground. In view of the above, the Town Board of the Town of Vernon intends
to regulate what may otherwise be the indiscriminate burial of human remains.
No person shall cause the remains of a human being to be buried or establish
a burial ground for such purpose in the Town of Vernon in any ground not set
apart and recognized as a municipal, religious or not-for-profit corporation
cemetery without having deposited adequate funds for the perpetual maintenance
of said grounds.
Adequate and appropriate funds is a relative term to be determined by
the Town Board of the Town of Vernon in each instance in order to establish
an adequate trust fund for the perpetual maintenance of said ground.
A.
Any person who shall be found to violate any provision
of this chapter shall be served by the Town Code Enforcement Officer with
written notice providing a reasonable time limit for the exhumation of the
buried remains. The offender shall, within the period of time stated in such
notice, permanently cease all violations.
B.
Any person who shall continue any violations beyond said
time limit shall be guilty of an offense and, upon conviction thereof, shall
be fined in an amount not exceeding $250 for each violation. Each day in which
any violation shall continue shall be deemed a separate offense.
C.
The provisions of this section shall be in addition to
and shall not preclude the enforcement of this chapter by application to the
New York Supreme Court for injunction or by any other lawful means. Any person
violating any of the provisions of this chapter shall become liable to the
Town for any expense, loss or damage occasioned by it by reason of such violation.
Any private or family cemeteries or burial grounds in existence in the
Town of Vernon at the time this chapter is passed is exempt from the above.
However, the Town of Vernon will not accept responsibility for the maintenance
or care of said burial grounds.
