City Council

Cemetery Commissioner

Position Description for Member of Board of Cemetery Commissioners

The board of cemetery commissioners is created by Charter § 218.  The Commission:

  1. Approves all internments occurring on Sundays, sets charges for the use of the receiving vault, prohibits internments in lots with debts against them, and designates areas to be used for burials at public expense;
  2. Establishes regulations regarding the operation of trucks, heavy wagons, bicycles, motorcycles, roller blades, snowmobiles, skateboards, or saddle horses inside cemetery grounds;
  3. Designates certain sections of the cemeteries where lots will not be sold except upon agreement to properly grade and fit the same;
  4. Changes the prices of lots in any section of the cemeteries and fixes new prices;
  5. May require the resetting of monuments or markers at the lot owner’s expense;
  6. May grant special permission to build vaults or other above ground structures in any cemetery after plans have been submitted and approved;
  7. May authorize the removal of trees, shrubs or plants deemed detrimental to any lot or to the cemetery;
  8. Approves board of finance investment or reinvestment of cemetery endowment funds;
  9. Is responsible for any other cemetery related authority and responsibilities delegated to them by City Council resolution

Members of this board must meet the following criteria: Be a legal voter of the City of Burlington

Members of this board will be appointed for: Three (3) year terms and until their successors are appointed and qualified. 

Historically, this board meets three (3) times per year.

In addition, members of this board will be expected to:

  • Attend all scheduled meetings, or if a meeting must be missed, let the chairperson know ahead of the meeting if they will not be able to attend;
  • Review any materials provided to the board ahead of time;
  • Notify the chairperson and/or the city staff person assigned to the board of any accommodation for a disability that may be required in order for the person to serve;
  • Act from a spirit of cooperation and with respect towards other board members, staff members, and members of the public appearing before the board;
  • Avoid actual or apparent conflicts of interest or bias;
  • When deciding a controversy or responding to a request, conduct themselves in a fair and impartial manner;
  • Comply with all aspects of the Vermont Open Meeting and Access to Public Records laws;
  • Consider fairly the interests of all individuals and organizations whose interests may be affected by their actions as a city official.