Saugus resolves downed trees issue

SAUGUS – The Cemetery Commission voted a plan Monday to replace the downed trees in Veterans Cemetery that mollified, if not thrilled residents, Tree Committee and Historical Commission members.The commission came under fire in August when cemetery workers took down about eight healthy trees in an effort to expand the cemetery for new veterans graves. Tree Committee members were outraged that proper procedure was not followed. Historical Commission members became outraged later when in an effort to temporarily rectify the situation the Cemetery Commission put up a stockade fence that was deemed inappropriate.Dennis Gould, chairman of the Cemetery Commission, took full responsibility for the entire situation Monday during a joint meeting with the three boards and a small cluster of residents.”This was not a slap in the face to anybody, it was just an oversight,” Gould said. “I’ll take the blow if someone wants to hit somebody.”The committee agreed to spend $4,000 of its budget to replace the trees with 10 white pines and five elm trees. The Saugus Tree Farm will provide five of the pines but the rest of the trees will be purchased.Tree Committee Chairman Tim Hawkes said the tree farm pines are only six to seven feet tall and it would take years for them to create a proper barrier for the neighbors. Tree Committee member Al DiNardo, however, said Northeast Nursery could supply 8-10 foot pines as well as disease-resistant elms.When funding the trees was first brought up all eyes turned to Town Manager Andrew Bisignani. He said he was unwilling to make a funding commitment because “there are other issues on the table right now.”Resident William Kramich said the Cemetery Department should foot the bill since it made the error.”Don’t go looking to the town for the money, you screwed up,” he said to Gould. “I don’t care if you have to lay off the (cemetery) superintendent.”Gould, however, assured the committees and Kramich that the commission would pick up the tab for the trees.Gould answered Historical Commission Chairman Steve Carlson’s concerns when he said the stockade fence would be removed when the new trees went in.The idea of removing the fence didn’t sit well with everyone though. Columbus Street resident Rosalie Morelli, whose yard backs up to the historic cemetery, wondered why the fence couldn’t actually be extended.”What about behind my house?” she asked. “I have an old rusted fence, is that historic? At least with the stockade fence you can grow trees so you can’t see it.”Columbus Street resident Julie Mills also argued that along with the trees a fence was needed to keep youth from cutting through the cemetery and residents’ yards.Gould said the Cemetery Commission had no funding for a fence but said he is looking into grants.”I would like to explore this with the Historical Commission,” he said, adding that any grants garnered could be used to continue the stonewall or add an ornamental wrought iron fence.Bisignani reminded Gould there is a process to actually purchasing the trees.”Send a letter with the request and I’ll forward it to the proper channels,” he said. “I’ll see that it gets done and work with John (Falasca, Cemetery Superintendent) to schedule the work.”