Cemetery panel OKs $1,572 in bills, plans tree removal

Cemetery Commission · Meeting of June 4, 2026

Berlin's Cemetery Commission approved $1,572 in year-end bills and advanced plans to remove three hazard trees before storm season. The three-member board, meeting in special session ahead of the June 30 fiscal-year close, paid $569 to the cemetery superintendent, $295 to Sontag Pump Company, and $708 to Northbrook Greenhouses, leaving about $6,350 on hand. Members are awaiting a quote from arborist Kevin Gonzalez of Wachusett Tree Service to remove an elm and two leaning maples at the Center Cemetery, citing a statewide range of "$500 to $2,100" per tree.

The board also finalized wording for eight new rule signs for the North and South cemeteries, changing posted hours so visitors may enter "sunrise" to "dusk" rather than "dawn," after consulting the police chief on enforcement. The meeting ended on a unanimous 3-0 vote to adjourn.

In the full story:

• Year-End Bills and Budget
• Shed Siding and Paint Project
• Hazard Tree Removal at Center Cemetery
• Monument Cleaning Project
• Cemetery Signage: Hours and Rules
• Implications and What Is Next
• Who Was There
• Organizations And Documents Referenced
• The complete report: 1,765 words

Source: the Cemetery Commission meeting of June 4, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.

Checked against the record: before publication this article was automatically compared with the meeting transcript. It was corrected where it differed.