TOWN HILL CEMETERY COMMITTTEE BYLAWS
Revised May 2, 2015
Revised December 2024
ARTICLE I NAME OF THE COMMITTEE
Section1 The Name shall be the Town Hill Cemetery Committee.
ARTICLE II HISTORY OF THE COMMITTEE
Section 1 The Town Hill Cemetery (hereinafter the Cemetery) was established in 1735 as the burial ground for the first settlers of New Hartford Connecticut. The property is located at 80 Hoppen Road, New Hartford, Connecticut.
Section 2 The memorial Park is the site of the original First Congregational Church located at the corner of Hoppen Road and Town Hill Road. The original church bell (set on pillars), foundation and steps still remain.
Section 3 The Cemetery has had many caretakers throughout the years. In 1957 The Town Hill Cemetery and Memorial Park Association (hereinafter the Association) was formed to carry out the duties of oversight and protection of this historic Cemetery and Memorial Park.
Section 4 The Cemetery boundaries are certified on the surveyor’s map dated August 1960 and the plot and gravestones shall be those described on the surveyor's map of the Cemetery dated January 6. 1967.
Section 5 The town extinguished the association in accordance with ordinance 2017-1 (Ordinance Establishing the Town Hill Cemetery Committee dated October 6, 2017) creating the Town Hill Cemetery Committee (hereinafter referred to as the Committee).
ARTICLE III PUPROSE OF THE COMMITEE
Section 1 The Cemetery is a non-profit/municipal body dedicated to providing a dignified final resting place for deceased persons.
Section 2 Lot acquisition and burial are open to anyone who abides by the Rules and Regulations, and the Bylaws of the Committee. Cemetery plots may be acquired by present or former New Hartford, Connecticut residents for their personal use or for their forebears or children.
ARTICLE IV PURPOSE OF THE BYLAWS
Section 1 These Bylaws were written to act as a guideline for the Committee. As the needs of the Committee change, these Bylaws can be changed or amended in order that the Committee, through its membership, may continue to perform its duties in an effective manner. The Annual Meeting or a Special Meeting called for that purpose shall be the time and place for amending the Bylaws.
Section 2 Once adopted by the membership, these Bylaws (dated and signed by the Chair and Secretary) replace and supersede all previously adopted Bylaws.
Section 3 The Cemetery Committee can recommend actions regarding the Memorial Park to the Board of Selectmen.
Section 4 The Memorial Park is a memorial park and is not under the jurisdiction of the Recreation Department.
ARTICLE V MEMBERSHIP
Section 1 Membership shall be limited to five (5) persons.
Section 2 Vacancies will be filled by the Board of Selectmen.
ARTICLE VI OFFICERS
Section 1 Officers will consist of a Chair, Treasurer, and Secretary.
Section 2 Officers will be elected in accordance with Ordinance 2017-1.
Section 3 The Chair will preside over all meetings.
Section 4 The Treasurer will present an annual financial report for the previous fiscal year (May 1-April 30) at the annual May meeting.
Finances will be managed in accordance with Ordinance 2017-1
Section 5 The Secretary shall take minutes of all meetings of the Committee. He/she shall receive, reply to, and maintain files of the correspondence of the Committee.
Section 6 The Chair and a designee, appointed by the Chair, shall share the managerial duties of the Cemetery.
Section 7 A member, upon departure of the Committee, shall turn over all records of their position to the newly elected member.
ARTICLE VII MEETINGS
Section 1 In order to comply with the Annual Probate Filing, the Annual Meeting shall be held on or before May 15th.
Section 2 A quorum shall consist of a simple majority of the membership to conduct business
Section 3 The Committee will comply with town requirements for the posting of agendas, minutes, and meeting locations.
ATTEST
Mary Lou Rayno, Chair Anne C. Hall, Secretary