GILL — The town agreed to take over the abandoned Riverside Cemetery and passed a $3.32 million budget on Monday.
The town meeting members also voted to purchase the cemetery on Main Road and Mountain Road for $1 at the annual town meeting in Town Hall.
All of Riverside Cemetery Association’s assets, including all written records, maps, crypt key, and money will be handed over to the town, said the association president Robert Perry at the meeting.
The town Cemetery Commission, composed of three elected officials, would then be responsible for the upkeep of the property, said Town Administrator Ray Purington.
“The town has a need to acquire additional land as our present cemeteries are running out of saleable burial plots,” said Chairman Greg Snedeker.
With dwindling money and volunteers, the Riverside Cemetery Association voted to dissolve their organization and abandon the cemetery at their meeting on May 4, with hopes that the town would step in and take care of the property.
The town also voted to authorize the Selectboard to negotiate a tax agreement with Borrego Solar Systems, a solar company that has negotiated a lease with the Northfield Mount Hermon School to use about 11 acres to construct a solar farm.
Based on an analysis provided by the Board of Assessors, town officials believe the tax agreement will provide the town with more stable tax revenue over the 20- to 30-year lifespan of the project.
The town authorized the Selectboard to work with the Gill-Montague Regional School District to explore possible repairs at Gill Elementary School, including installing a new roof.
The town set aside about $1.59 million for the operations of the Gill-Montague School District. Gill’s assessment for the district’s operating budget increased by $8,963. The Recreation Committee was allocated $3,600 for general operations.
The Capital Improvement Planning Committee recommended the town replace a 2005 police cruiser. Since the town was not able to come to a decision in time for the annual town meeting, the Selectboard will have a special town meeting in the coming weeks to vote on purchasing the new cruiser. The town also voted to purchase a backhoe for the Highway Department.