[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town Meeting of the Town of Belchertown 2-12-2001
STM by Art. 27. This article also repealed former Ch. 208, Cemeteries, which
consisted of Art. I, South Cemetery, Mill Valley Road, adopted 6-30-1975
STM by Art. 10; and Art. II, Hillcrest Cemetery, adopted 5-14-1988
ATM by Art. 13. Amendments noted where applicable.]
A. Sale of lots shall in each case be consummated by the
payment therefor and by the delivery of a deed, and no lot shall be considered
sold until said delivery of payment.
B. The funeral director or the deed holder shall produce
the deed(s), for said lot, to the Department of Public Works Director or his
agent, for examination, before any burial can take place.
C. Lots will be established and the Director of Public Works
or his agent will place the corner bounds.
D. Lots shall not be used for any purpose other than as
a burial place for the dead. No more than two eight-grave lots shall be sold
to anyone, unless determined by the Director of Public Works to be essential.
E. If any trees or shrubs in said lot shall become in any
way detrimental to the adjacent lots, avenues or paths, or dangerous or inconvenient,
it shall be the duty of the Director of Public Works or his agent to enter
into said lot and remove said trees or shrubs, or other obstruction.
F. If any monument or effigy, or any inscription be placed
in or upon a said lot that is considered offensive or improper, the Director
of Public Works or his agent has the right to enter upon said lot and remove
said offensive or improper object or objects.
G. All monuments, headstones, or markers to be placed in
the cemetery must be approved by the Director of Public Works or authorized
agent, and must have a suitable foundation.
H. All foundations shall be put in by, or under the supervision
of, the Director of Public Works or his agent, and no monument shall be installed
without a foundation.
I. All headstones or markers will be flush with the grass,
unless exempted by the Director of Public Works.
J. The Director of Public Works shall establish, within
each cemetery, a separate area for upright headstones, and/or markers; said
area shall have a four-lot minimum purchase, and only one upright headstone
per area shall be permitted.
K. Only one flower pot is permitted per grave. The Director
of Public Works, or his agent, shall have the sole authority to enter upon
any grave and remove said flower pots when they restrict maintenance activities.
L. Lots purchased shall not be resold for a price greater
than the original purchase price.
M. Curbing, projecting corner posts, fences, hedges, shrubs,
and flowering plants on or about any lot or lots are prohibited, except as
approved by the Director of Public Works or his agent. Absolutely no planting
will be allowed.
N. The Board of Selectmen shall establish the purchase price
of cemetery lots.
These regulations, upon adoption by Town Meeting, supersede any preexisting
regulations in effect, and are intended to provide guidance for the use, operation,
and maintenance of all the cemeteries under the jurisdiction of the Town of
Belchertown.