CPC backs cemetery design funding

Community Preservation Committee · Meeting of March 19, 2026

WATERTOWN — The Community Preservation Committee voted to advance a design-phase request for Watertown's two historic cemeteries. Open Space Planner Michelle Moon told members the money would hire a landscape architect to produce construction drawings for the Old Burying Ground and Common Street Cemetery, with bidders required to have three historic projects in New England. Tree removal, including about 10 trees, falls outside the budget voted on.

Members also approved minutes 6-0 with one abstention, extended the chair's term to July 1, and discussed a clawback policy, saying spending now exceeds surcharge revenue and future funding "will be a little more difficult."

In the full story:

• The Full Story
• A member said the tombstones matter more than the trees
• A member raised the committee's finances, saying spending has begun to exceed surcharge revenue for the first time in recent years
• Why It Matters
• Key Motions & Votes
• Source
• Watertown's community access TV: Community Preservation Committee meeting, March 19, 2026
• The complete report: 800 words

Source: the Community Preservation Committee meeting of March 19, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.

Checked against the record: before publication this article was automatically compared with the meeting transcript. It was corrected where it differed.