By DAN TOMASELLO
LYNNFIELD — Fall Town Meeting rejected a proposal to expand Willow Cemetery last week.
Article 12 requested Fall Town Meeting to approve appropriating $800,000 from the Sale of Real Estate Account to purchase a property located at 1005 Summer St. in order to expand Willow Cemetery.
“The town currently has 10 years of burial space left,” said Town Administrator Rob Dolan. “One of the properties by the Willow Cemetery went up for sale. We did an analysis of the space, and found that we can fit 500 graves on that site if the town were to purchase it. If we move the stone wall, we could build 600. That would extend the life of our cemeteries between 30 and 40 years.”
Dolan noted that buying the Summer Street property would “deplete” the Sale of Real Estate Account.
“In order to extend the life of our cemeteries, this is the soundest solution,” said Dolan.
The Planning Board voted not to recommend Article 12.
“When we were talking about this, a lot of people questioned whether the town should be in the business of owning and operating cemeteries,” said Planning Board Chair Brian Charville. “There is $1.1 million in the Sale of Real Estate Account, and buying this home would cost $800,000. It also takes a single-family home that would normally be available to a family off the market.”
While the Select Board unanimously voted to recommend Article 12, the Finance Committee did not.
Keniston Road resident Gayle Richardson noted that she recently buried her sister-in-law.
“We don’t die the same way people used to,” said Richardson. “A lot of people are now being cremated. My husband’s family had eight lots. You can put three people in one lot. Eight lots become 24. I understand your perspective of wanting to take care of generations for 40 years, but I will not be staying in Lynnfield when I go. I will be in the ground elsewhere.”
Essex Village resident Gale Foley recalled that she has lived in town for her entire life.
“I am very supportive of enlarging Willow Cemetery,” said Foley. “I think it’s important for people who have lived here for a long time have a place to bury their loved ones.”
A gentleman inquired if the Sale of Real Estate Account is the same fund that will be used to buy the historic deed restriction for Jay Kimball’s 618 Main St. home.
Dolan said yes.
Planning Board member Page Wilkins asked if the Sale of Real Estate Account could be used to preserve historic properties in town and expanding parks.
Dolan said yes.
“This is a unique opportunity,” Dolan added. “It doesn’t come around very often, so we wanted to bring it before the town to decide what we value as a community.”
Wilkins also inquired if there are any properties the town can currently sell in order to replenish the Sale of Real Estate Account.
Dolan said not at this time.
After the discussion, Fall Town Meeting rejected Article 12 by a 222-133 vote.