Overview:
The Cemetery Commission in Erving is requesting $1.3 million for the expansion of Center Cemetery, which only has seven plots remaining. The expansion plan includes 100 new traditional burial plots, areas for green burials and columbarium niches for cremations, and a new driveway for vehicle access.
ERVING — The Cemetery Commission is estimating a $1.3 million price tag on an expansion of Center Cemetery as part of a capital request for fiscal year 2027.
During a joint meeting of the Selectboard, Finance Committee and Capital Planning Committee last week, Cemetery Commission member Holly Fitzpatrick spoke to the need for expansion, as only seven plots remain in the 7.5-acre cemetery, located just west of Erving Center on Route 2.
“I’m feeling a little bit more anxiety about it,” Fitzpatrick said as Finance Committee Chair Debra Smith asked about any mandated deadline for gravesite expansion.
In a phone interview, Fitzpatrick said the expansion plan will include expanding across the street from the current land off of Mountain Road, with approximately 100 new traditional burial plots, as well as areas for green burials and columbarium niches for cremated remains. There will also be a new driveway for vehicle access into the cemetery.
This expansion project has already received some funding for the design work. In May 2025, Annual Town Meeting voters approved a $1.10 million appropriation for nine capital projects, including $200,000 for the Center Cemetery expansion. This money was used to complete design plans for the expansion.
The project also has $44,052 left from a $50,000 capital appropriation approved during the May 2022 Annual Town Meeting for engineering. In the FY23 budget description for this $50,000 appropriation, the description mentions having only 57 grave sites available.
The capital request explains that the Cemetery Commission has worked with Town Administrator Bryan Smith, Cemetery Sexton Glenn McCrory, Merrill Engineers & Land Surveyors, and Ryan Associates Landscape Architecture and Planning.
Fitzpatrick explained the first portion of the project needs to be the road construction and stormwater management. Then, the process of creating the burial plots can start. However, breaking these two portions of the project into separate phases would be costly for crews needing to install, remove and then reinstall expensive security fencing and equipment.
“Trying to phase it would be difficult, because you have to do all of that, and then if we only did part of it, when they come back, you have to get all the fencing back in,” she explained. “You have to have all the safety fencing and the security fencing. You’d have to get all of the equipment back and every time they do anything with that, they charge you.”
Fitzpatrick also mentioned that having one phase for construction limits interruptions to any ceremonies happening at the cemetery.
Other department requests
Besides the request from the Cemetery Commission, the Selectboard, Finance Committee and Capital Planning Committee also discussed requests from other town departments in public works and public safety.
The Erving Fire Department is seeking $420,000 to cover the remaining balance on the purchase of a new fire truck to replace a 1989 Pierce pumper.
In FY26, the town approved $450,000 to go toward the purchase of a new truck, which only covered the partial cost of the estimated $870,000 total. The department expects to have the new truck delivered in October after some modifications are made to it at the North Attleborough dealership in September.
FY27 capital requests from the Erving Police Department include $75,000 for the replacement of a 2020 hybrid Ford police cruiser with a 2025 or 2026 Ford Interceptor police cruiser and $6,000 for six new Tasers to replace outdated models.
As for wastewater collection and disposal, there is a $50,000 request for stair replacement at one of the wastewater treatment plants, and $702,000 for utility improvements on Lillian’s Way from the Water Department.
Requests from the Highway Department include $247,181 for a wheeled excavator with road mowing equipment additions, $878,000 for Ridge Road paving and drainage work, and $125,000 for the replacement of a Ford plow truck. An additional cost not listed in the materials from the Highway Department includes $400,000 for a culvert replacement on Bridge Street that Highway Superintendent Glenn McCrory told the boards can be put on hold until, or if, grant funding is available.