Community Corner
Selectmen Raise Cemetery Fees
The increases are in part to prepare for expansion since the cemetery is running out of space.
Selectmen voted 4-1 Wednesday to raise cemetery fees in order to be prepared for cemetery expansion and to cover Saturday burial costs.
Officials said the fees have not gone up in nine years.
Find out what's happening in Swampscottwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Weekday burials rose from $600 to $750 and Saturday burials from $850 to $1,000.
In addition, perpetual care costs climbed from $350 to $500, and lot sales from $750 to $900.
Find out what's happening in Swampscottwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Department of Public Works crews bury the dead, digging a grave, placing the casket within and covering it.
Department of Public Works Director Gino Cresta said the cemetery is running out of space. To create more room, the town will have to pay a contractor to blast ledge.
In addition, the longstanding $850 fee for a Saturday burial was not covering the town's costs, considering overtime expenses, he said.
Former town employee John Dipietro, who worked at the cemetery for 25 years, joined the discussion, questioning the way things have been done in recent years.
Selectman Glenn Kessler cast the lone dissenting vote.
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
