Maintenance on cemetery in legal limbo
BROWNSVILLE TWP. – Township officials are hoping the grass doesn’t grow too fast at Redstone Cemetery this spring, because, legally, there is no way to hire anyone to cut it. According to Brownsville Township Supervisor Homer Yeardie, the last known member of the cemetery’s board of directors has passed away, leaving the organization that was chartered in 1877 in limbo.
“As of right now, there are no board members that we know of to run the cemetery,” Yeardie said.
The township this past week called a meeting for anyone interested in the cemetery, including those who own plots there. The meeting attracted 37 people, Yeardie said, but legally, that group can’t do anything. Yeardie said the matter has been turned over to the township’s solicitor, Tony Dedola.
“Tony Dedola is looking into how people can legally be put on the board,” Yeardie said. “We think it will have to be appointed by a judge.”
Yeardie said the cemetery is still active, with plots that have been purchased and burials still taking place there, but there is no way at present to access funds for maintenance work.
“There is an investment account at Parker/Hunter, but it can’t be accessed without a court order,” Yeardie said.
Yeardie said there might also be a small account at National City Bank, but like the investment account, it can’t be touched without a board of directors in place for the cemetery.
Yeardie said the group of interested individuals can’t even take action to raise money for maintenance at this point.
“Coastal Lumber offered $12,000 for the lumber around the cemetery. The people at the meeting were all willing to do that, but legally, nothing can take place,” Yeardie said.
Yeardie said individuals at the meeting offered to volunteer to mow the grass and to maintain the roads with donated equipment, but even the ability to use volunteers is questionable.
“There’s no insurance on the property,” Yeardie said. “Hopefully, this can move along fast enough that something can be done with the grass before Memorial Day. The township will try to help if we can, but we don’t have the resources to do everything.”
Yeardie said that while some of the people at the meeting expressed interest in serving on the cemetery board, no one has submitted a letter of interest to the supervisors yet.
Yeardie said that while the maintenance and board matters are worked out, burials can still take place at the cemetery. Funeral director Guy Skirpan has the cemetery records regarding the sale of funeral plots.