Marblehead cemetery board eyes school land for expansion

MARBLEHEAD – Seeking additional space for expansion, the Cemetery Commission has asked the School Committee to give them a vacant 5.7-acre parcel of land at 159 Beacon St. to develop as a cemetery.The commissioners were hoping that the School Committee’s feelings may have changed since a previous committee rejected the same request in 2000.Although the School Committee took no vote on the request, the discussion didn’t sound favorable when the committee discussed the letter at its retreat Tuesday morning."I would hate to give them the impression that we’re more willing than we were before," said Superintendent of Schools Paul Dulac. He pointed out that past School Committee policy has been to hold onto the parcels of land the School Department owns in town.Committee member Amy Drinker said she believes the property the commission wants is located at the point where West Shore Drive meets Beacon Street. In the past that property has been examined as a dog park, a farmers’ market site and an outdoor learning space where the Conservation Commission could share their expertise with school children. That property abuts a residential neighborhood and neighbors opposed the farmers’ market proposal due to lack of parking.Drinker said she walked the property recently. She recommended asking the commission for a map of the site they were requesting to make sure they were talking about the right parcel and to hold a public meeting on the matter so that townspeople and the committee could understand the request."They want us to hand it over to them. They’re running out of room," she said.Committee Chair Dick Nohelty asked Drinker to draft the letter.