Harwich officials recently discovered that a parcel previously thought to be a simple easement is actually 2.32 acres of town-owned land. Cemetery Administrator Cindy Eldredge reported that Assessor Carlyn Jones and local resident Alan Hall helped identify a deed providing significant road access to the Kelly Cemetery. Alan Hall actually watched the meeting and then called me because when we were talking about the Kelly Cemetery and the access we had coming in, there was a deed that was signed and turned over to the town that I did not have access to, Eldredge explained. The discovery shifts the town's understanding of its holdings from a limited easement to full ownership stretching all the way to the street.

The discovery prompted immediate action from the Commission to consolidate and square off the property. Commissioner Rob Doane suggested reaching out to the heirs of an adjacent small parcel to finish it off and provide better entry parking or extra grave spaces. Motion Made by R. Doane to attempt to contact and or acquire the adjacent parcel through donation or purchase to square off the Kelly Cemetery land. Motion Passed (3-0-0). Eldredge noted she would work with the assessing department to locate the current contact information for the property's heirs.

Beyond land acquisition, the commission is grappling with a significant revenue shift as Harwich residents increasingly favor cremation over traditional burials. Eldredge noted that while two full burial lots traditionally brought in $1,600 for the town, a pair of cremation lots currently sells for just $500. This $1,100 difference per sale is putting pressure on the cemetery’s long-term budget. Our income is going down because of this shift, Eldredge said, adding that she intends to meet with the accounting department to move funds into interest-bearing Rockland Trust accounts to offset the losses. This push for fiscal efficiency comes as the town faces broader financial pressure, including a $50 million spending surge that has prompted other boards to demand 40-year debt forecasts.

Commissioner Steve [Surname] voiced support for the move to maximize interest income to ensure the department can afford future improvements. Eldredge emphasized the necessity of the shift, stating, If we're getting less money from lot sales, we need this to be making us money for improvements. The department is currently in stable shape with few outstanding bills, but the long-term trend toward smaller lot sales remains a concern for the board’s independence and maintenance capabilities.

The transition to cremation is also driving infrastructure changes at Evergreen Cemetery. The commission authorized the DPW to jackhammer a large boulder currently set in a heavy concrete foundation behind the Veterans Memorial circle. Motion Made by R. Doane to put in a work order for the DPW to jackhammer and relocate the Veterans Rock to allow for the future cremation wall. Motion Passed (3-0-0). Doane insisted on the move despite the labor-intensive nature of removing the concrete base. I still think it's got to be moved... I say we do it, especially since the follow-on project is the cremation wall, Doane said. The board hopes to have the relocation completed before Veterans Day in November.

In another effort to honor veterans, the commission is finalizing a list of approximately 450 Revolutionary War soldiers buried in Harwich. To ensure accuracy before these names are permanently etched into stone monuments, the town plans to publish the full list in the Chronicle for public vetting. Eldredge has been cross-referencing names with neighboring Yarmouth and Chatham to resolve discrepancies in where specific soldiers served. Doane advocated for an inclusive approach to the list, noting that potential double or triple listing is a small price for omission of a veteran's name.

Administrative operations are also seeing shifts as Caitlyn Smith from the DPW begins training to assist with cemetery management. She did a burial with me that had full military honors and a 21-gun salute, Eldredge told the board, noting that Smith has also learned lot layouts and burial certification. The commission is considering asking Smith to take over the typing of meeting minutes to relieve the administrative burden on the chair. Commissioner Doane admitted that English is not my strong suit when discussing the clerical task. Additionally, the town is navigating the retirement of Veterans Services staffer Shaunie, with interim coverage currently filling in two days a week at the community center to ensure local veterans maintain access to services.

Finally, the board is moving away from traditional wood signs in favor of more durable, non-wood materials used by the Recreation Department. Eldredge is seeking quotes for new signage at Kelly Cemetery and a metal sign for the Belleneck cemetery trail. The board also discussed the success of Michael Theoritis’s recent Eagle Scout fence project and began brainstorming future projects for upcoming scouts, including potential fencing and clearing work at the newly discovered Kelly Cemetery acreage.