YARMOUTH – Yarmouth selectmen approved the new rules and regulations for the town’s cemeteries at their meeting on Tuesday night.
The new rules include a four inch concrete border around the base of all monuments, stones or grave markers, and footsteps are to be kept at ground level and are to be four inches thick.
One grave lot stone will be limited in size to a height of 28 inches, 30 inch width and a depth of 13 inches, with a two grave lot stone limited in size to 48”x48”x15”
Single stones that represent a family plot (four or more grave lots) have no height restriction but the base must allow for support of the stone as well as burial vault installation.
“We added a small paragraph, benches are allowed in lieu of a grave stone, however it cannot be in addition to a stone,” said Megan Homer, a member of the Cemetery Ad Hoc Committee. “Benches must be of marble or granite dimensions, not to exceed those of a monument.”
Any shrubs may be planted only on two-grave or larger lots within 12 inches to the side of the headstone, with a height restricted to the height of the stone.
Plantings, mementos and ornaments also must be placed within 18 inches of the front of the headstone.
“I think this is a very well written set of rules and regulations,” said Selectman Erik Tolley. “I think it’s a great improvement over what we had.”
Selectmen also approved the forming of a five-member Cemetery Advisory Committee, with it comprising of mostly Yarmouth residents, that would be tasked with reviewing plans and providing reports.
By JUSTIN SAUNDERS, CapeCod.com Newscenter
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