Southwick Cemetery Commission Advances Columbarium RFP, Weighs New Fee Schedule

Other Committee · Meeting of July 15, 2026

Southwick Cemetery Commission advances columbarium plans and a revised fee schedule at July session. The commission, chaired by Gene Theroux with member Norman O'Shea present and Darcy Rock excused, approved minutes from three prior meetings dating to November 2024 and reorganized with Theroux remaining as chair. Cemetery Sexton Evan reported a productive grounds season including stump grinding by contractor Don Frelani, replanting of flower beds damaged by pine tree acidity, and ongoing grass restoration across active sections.

The commission discussed purchasing two columbarium units, each holding 48 niches, pending a finalized Request for Proposals, with per-niche pricing tentatively in the range of $350, structured to allow each unit to pay for itself when fully sold. A proposed new fee schedule would set full burial plots at $550, cremation plots at $300, and columbarium vaults at $600. Both the RFP and the fee schedule are expected to come to a formal vote at a September meeting.

In the full story:

• Minutes Approval
• Board Reorganization
• Sexton's Report: Grounds Maintenance and Tree Work
• New Business: Columbarium RFP
• New Business: Proposed Fee Schedule
• Substantive content: The sexton outlined the proposed fees verbally
• Additional Items
• Who Was There
• Organizations And Documents Referenced
• The complete report: 1,986 words

Source: the Other Committee meeting of July 15, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.

Checked against the record: before publication this article was automatically compared with the meeting transcript.