WILTON — The Board of Selectpersons voted unanimously Tuesday to move forward on a proposal that has the town taking on cemetery mowing.
Although Town Manager Rhonda Irish had bids from local contractors for the work, the board wanted to hear more about a proposal that addresses the $33,000 budgeted for cemetery mowing this summer.
Along with mowing, the town could do more maintenance such as filling in sunken graves and cleaning, she said. It would also provide the town with more control over the work.
The proposal suggests hiring a seasonal worker for 30 hours per week or combining the work with a truck driver/laborer seasonal position for the Public Works Department. The combined full-time position would be 30 hours a week in the cemeteries and 10 hours a week in Public Works, she said.
The laborer position would require full-time benefits and costs would include the purchase of start-up equipment.
Quotes for two riding mowers and other small commercial equipment have been obtained. The department would also need to look for a used truck, she said.
Irish suggested using $20,000 for the initial equipment purchase from Cemetery Trust Funds which has a little over $600,000 in money market and stock accounts, she said.
Selectpersons authorized Dale Roberts, Public Works foreman, to attend an auction this week to buy a truck that does not exceed $10,000.
Although the move requires an initial investment in equipment and salaries, Selectperson John Black said he would expect the equipment, if taken care of, to last for four to five years.
The board always picks the lowest bidder for cemetery mowing and they hurry through it to get the work done, he said.
Selectpersons Ruth Cushman and Jeff Adams said they liked the idea of more control over how the work is done.
“The work will be done when it needs to be done and not (when) it fits someone’s schedule,” Adams said.
The board will continue to review the proposal at its next meeting.
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