Vienna Village Cemetery Association

Annual Meeting

Sunday, May 21, 2023 at 1 p.m.

Community Room, Vienna Fire Station 

Minutes

Present:  Jim Anderberg, Debbie Byrnes, Barbara Gilman, Cynthia Pelliccia, Norma Polley, 

Caitlin Zamboni (new member as of this meeting) , Lory Zamboni,

Also attending as Guests:  John and Sherene Gilman, Libby Harville, Sarah Swift Simons

President Jim Anderberg called the meeting to order shortly after 1:00 p.m.

As Jim requested everyone around the table introduced him or herself.

The minutes of the May 15, 2022 meeting were read by Debbie Byrnes and accepted.

Treasurer’s report was given by Lory Zamboni.  The current balance is $9,722.78.

Concerns were expressed about expenses especially ones concerning upkeep and the new parcel.

It was concluded that we are ok for now.  Only 1 plot sold in the last year. The 7 acre plot across the road will have to be surveyed before plots can be sold.

Election of Officers:

Jim Anderberg will remain president; Debbie Byrnes, Vice president, Cynthia Pelliccia, secretary;

Lory Zamboni, treasurer.  The Board of Directors:  Barbara Gilman, Norma Polley and Caitlin Zamboni.  The president is automatically sextant as per Article V, Duties of officers, Section 1a; Jim and

Debbie will serve as co-sextants.

(The slate of officers e presented near the end of the meeting and vote held then passed unanimously.)

Old Business:

Location of the deed for the 7-acre parcel across the road is not known.  Jim will look into that.

As a last resort the Registry of Deeds can be contacted.

Eligibility for purchasing a lot was discussed throughout the meeting.  Several people including guests had questions about the purchase of plots.  After an extended discussion it was decided to eliminate the second sentence, “Otherwise, the cemetery plots will be sold only when there is a need due to a death,” and to update the wording of the first sentence both of which are in the June 8, 2008 By-laws Article II Purpose, Section 1, sentence #2.  The first sentence as written in the June 8 2008 By-laws “The cemetery plots will be sold only to the residents of the town of Vienna or to persons with relatives already buried in the cemetery” is amended to read “The cemetery plots will be sold only to the residents of the town of Vienna including current, seasonal non-commercial property owners or to persons with relatives already buried in the cemetery.” 

The new wording was unanimously passed. 

Membership was also discussed. Debbie Byrnes read Article III Section 1 which states “membership in the association shall be comprised of members who own plots in the cemetery or who have a relative buried in the cemetery.”  After some discussion, no action was taken to amend this wording. Dues -Article III Section 3 are $2 per year.

Helen Wilkey had asked Jim to mention concerns about resale of the plots. Could there be instances where someone would try to resell for instances other than family needs.  After some discussion, it was decided to take no action on resale of plots at this time.

Vault or no vault

There was some concern expressed about our vote at last year’s meeting to eliminate the vault requirement, Cemetery Ordinances #15.  Lory Zamboni had researched and found there is no state of Maine requirement for a vault.  Evidently, there is no Town of Vienna requirement.  The concern is that without a vault there will be more subsidence or sinking of the plot and is that an expense the Association would have to cover.  The consensus was that once a plot is sold the owner(s) is/are responsible for the upkeep.

Upkeep and Maintenance

Jim removed the bittersweet that had covered a stone near the woods in the new section to prevent the spread of that extremely invasive plant. The existence of shrubs and trees that violate Ordinance #5 “No trees, shrubs or invasive plants shall be planted” was mentioned at last year’s meeting but not addressed this year.

Damaged stones in the “old” section

We discussed the broken stones during the 2022 meeting. It was noted that there are even more damaged stones now.  Alan Harville and Debbie Probert have volunteered to clean and repair those stones.  Libby Harville will touch base with them.

New Business:

Green cemetery. There was an extended discussion of the parcel across the road from main cemetery and whether it could be a green cemetery.  Also, what is a green cemetery, what does it look like, how are the burials conducted, who maintains.  Sarah Swift Simons, one of our guests, volunteered to research the subject.  Cynthia suggested a good resource might be Theresa Hutchins, Executive Director, of the Kennebec Land Trust.

Removal of plots 101 and 102 for access; road?

The possibility of adding a road along the front of the plots to make access to plots near the upper end of the “new” section was discussed at the 2022 meeting. That subject was revisited and more discussion ensued.  It was decided that the gravel road option would not be explored due to the expense.  Eliminating plots 101 and 102 and removing a couple of the boulders along the existing road was discussed and passed unanimously.  Jim planned to meet with Darrell Varney immediately after the meeting to find out if Darrell could move them.  Darrell had removed the huge limb that fell last fall and landed on a couple 

of the stones in the “old” section.

Jim said he has the used flags that had been removed from the cemetery and asked about the proper disposal of flags.  Sherene mentioned that the American Legion does take care of them.  John said his boss is a veteran who also performs that task. Libby will take the flags until the disposal is resolved.

The meeting was adjourned at 3:01 p.m.

Respectively submitted, Cynthia Pelliccia, Secretary