Pursuant to the provisions of § 7-148(c)(3)(A) and (6)(A)(i) and § 19a-302 of the General Statutes of the State of Connecticut, the Town of Harwinton hereby adopts an Ordinance To Establish a Cemetery Committee To Manage Town Cemeteries and To Appoint a Sexton and Assistant Sexton.
[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town of Harwinton 5-21-2024 by Ord. No. 164, effective 6-8-2024. Amendments noted where applicable.]
The Town of Harwinton hereby establishes a Cemetery Committee for the purpose of operating and administering cemeteries within the borders of the Town and advising the Town with respect to said cemeteries.
A.
The Cemetery Committee shall have authority to recommend acceptance from any cemetery association any funds, assets, or rights and obligations which said association may transfer or assign to the Town. In each case, a condition of such acceptance shall be that said association shall be wound up and dissolved within a reasonable time after completion of Town acceptance.
B.
The Cemetery Committee shall not have the authority to acquire or sell real property and shall not obligate the Town for expenditures in excess of funds for cemetery purposes appropriated by the Town, its Board of Finance, and its Board of Selectmen.
For purposes of this chapter, all cemeteries under the care of the Committee include, but are not limited to, the cemeteries commonly known as the Center Cemetery, the South Cemetery, and the North Cemetery.
This chapter shall not preclude the Town and its Board of Selectmen from exercising the powers granted to them by the General Statutes. In case of a conflict between any action by the Town or its Board of Selectmen and an action by the Cemetery Committee, the action of the Town or its Board of Selectmen shall control.
The Cemetery Committee shall consist of five members who shall be electors of the Town, including two alternates to serve as members at any meeting where the quorum for a meeting requires it. The members and alternates shall be appointed by the Board of Selectmen and serve without compensation.
A.
To establish staggered terms, the initial appointments to the Committee shall be:
(1)
Two members to serve until November 18, 2025, and thereafter for a term of four years and until their successors have been appointed and qualified.
(2)
Three members to serve until November 16, 2027, and thereafter for a term of four years and until their successors have been appointed and qualified.
(3)
Two alternate members to serve until November 18, 2025, and thereafter for a term of two years and until their successors have been appointed and qualified.
B.
Vacancies occurring during any term shall be filled by appointment by a majority vote of the Board of Selectmen for the remainder of the term.
The Town may employ a Sexton and may also employ an Assistant Sexton, both to be non-union positions, to facilitate day-to-day operations and burials and coordinate facility maintenance with the Public Works Department. The Sexton shall report to the First Selectman. The Assistant Sexton shall report to the Sexton. The Sexton and Assistant Sexton shall act within municipal budgetary constraints. If a supplemental appropriation is needed, then the Sexton shall request the municipal supplemental appropriation approvals required by the General Statutes. In the absence of the Sexton, the Assistant Sexton is authorized to perform all duties that the Sexton could lawfully perform.
The Cemetery Committee may adopt and from time to time amend or revoke a cemetery policy for the operation and administration of cemeteries within the borders of the Town. Such adoption, amendment, or revocation shall require a public hearing by the Cemetery Committee, approval of a majority of the Cemetery Committee, and approval of a majority of the Board of Selectmen.