Halifax Cemetery Commission
Special Meeting
Wednesday, February 25, 2026, at 9:30 AM
Halifax Town Office, 246 Branch Road, West Halifax, VT
Commission Members: Linda Swanson, Gary Rand, Laurel Copeland
Guests: Doug Parkhurst (DP), Marilou Parkhurst (MP)
DRAFT Minutes
CALL TO ORDER at 9:30 am
APPROVAL OF MINUTES – minutes from special meeting on Dec. 22, 2025, were approved.
CHANGES AND/OR ADDITIONS TO AGENDA – Goals for this year, seeding down the soil around stones.
NEW BUSINESS
Pennel Hill Plot Plan – Brad Lackey sent a map of the existing graves and entry road, asking for our plan for where to put access road(s) and graves. The existing road is unclear when we are there in warm weather; was a plot sold in it? Continue the road to 2nd (west) entrance, up the middle curving between existing graves and newly cleared area, and around along the wall returning to the 2nd (west) access point. The headstones will have text on the west side with the graves on the east side (a visitor does not stand on the grave to read the headstone). GR will discuss with the abutter establishing a 50-foot (or so) right-of-way for access via the west entrance and parking. Vehicle traffic will use the west entrance; the existing access road will be for foot traffic only. DP commented that there are two more plots in the string of Parkhurst plots, not shown on the plot plan.
Niles Topsoil and Fence Planning – GR suggests we hire someone to add the topsoil and seed it, and a fence company to provide & install the fence posts. GR talked with the B’boro fence company recently and will call them to get an estimate.
OLD BUSINESS
Budget Fiscal Year Ending in 2027 (July 1, 2026-June 30, 2027) & Review of Cemeteries – the Cemetery Commission needs to get in touch with last year’s mowers to determine whether they will work this coming season and determine any cost changes.
Add weed-whacking Hall (“Hatch”) Cemetery twice a year.
Ask for updated bids on West Halifax Cemetery trees. What is the proposed route to take out trees?
Repair stones in May (Niles, Adams; GR will check his epoxy).
Finish Halifax Center cleaning and replacements. Specifically, Brooke Crosier’s dad James needs a veteran’s stone; Paul Crosier’s parents Larry (d. May 2022) & Vera (d. Nov. 2010) need a bench or headstone.
Worden has stones that need repair – we could have workday in Worden.
Get in touch with the douser, Nicole Vecchi of VOCA, 845-239-1970 nsvecchi@yahoo.com to check for unmarked graves in Stanclift, Clark, Pennel Hill.
In Stanclift replace the white PVC pipes with permanent markers.
OTHER BUSINESS
Goals for this year –
- Seeding down the soil around stones – LS proposed we seed with white clover which grows only 4 inches tall so does not need mowing and also feeds the bees. Motion made and approved to use White Clover Seed when we disturb the soil in the cemeteries or add new soil.
- Whitneyville needs the tree roots covered with soil and seeded with white clover. We will also check the stumps that GR treated with Epsom salts.
HEARING OF VISITORS – DP asked about the use of dousers in cemeteries; dousers can be used to find bodies in unmarked graves.
ADJOURNMENT at 10:51 am.
ACTION ITEMS –
GR will send the rough sketch of the access road to Brad Lackey; GR will discuss parking/access area with abutter
GR will call Brattleboro fencing company on Marlboro Road to get an estimate.
GR will call someone about filling & seeding the Niles slope.
LS will get in touch with all the town mowers
LC will get in touch with the contract mowers
LC will ask Walker for updated bid & plan to pull trees from West Halifax Cemetery.
LC will get in touch with Brooke Crosier via email
LS will get in touch with Paul Crosier
LC will get in touch with the douser
Audio recording: https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/share/FPw-ndPwB57W264OHOsykwQqNnIU0AvAgl_0HfyCRhwB-rDbo4fInq3bWaDlVPtX.YnFGYoI_OqXk09xv
Passcode: $5fxj@aC
