Adopted by the Board of Cemetery Commissioners
of Mount Pleasant Cemetery
Arlington, Massachusetts
Visitors are forbidden to walk across cemetery lots unless on the way to visit a grave. The General Laws provides a fine for doing so.
Motor vehicles must not be operated within the cemetery at a rate of speed that is greater than reasonable and proper, because roadways are winding and used by pedestrians.
The drinking of alcoholic beverages, as defined in Chapter #138, Sect. #1 of the General Laws, is prohibited. Penalty is provided for in Sect. #25 of Articles #9 of the Town of Arlington By-Laws. The following is forbidden within the cemetery:
A) The riding of mini-bikes, go-carts and any motorized recreational vehicle
B) The display and/or sale of goods, wares and merchandise
C) Instructing persons in the use and operation of a motor vehicle
D) Use of cemetery roadways for pleasure driving
E) For any person to walk a dog
F) For any unauthorized person or persons to be within the cemetery after dusk.
Any person found in violation of the above subsections shall be deemed a trespasser and subject to prosecution therefore.
The foregoing rules and regulations and prices are made by the Board of Cemetery Commissioners and are subject to change without notice. Exceptions to these rules may be made by a majority vote of the Commissioners.
Interments
Rules and regulations of the Board of Cemetery Commissioners of the Town of Arlington, Massachusetts, are made for the protection of Lot Owners and in conformity with the Town By-Laws and Statutes of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
In order to purchase a new grave, you must be an Arlington resident for a minimum of four (4) years.
Lots in Mt. Pleasant Cemetery are not sold for future use.
Lots and Graves are sold to residents of Arlington only and are not transferable to non-residents, except with the consent of the commissioners. The first interment must be a member of the Town of Arlington. A long time resident, (35 years) having left Arlington less than four (4) years prior to death, will qualify to purchase a single grave at cost of $3,000.00 plus $300.00 for perpetual care.
The above rule does not apply to lots previously purchased, in which case the owner of the lot may request that a member of his/her immediate family be interred therein, whether or not they are residents of Arlington.
Interments are not made on Sunday, or on the following holidays: New Years Day, Memorial Day, July 4th, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas. There will be an extra charge for all funerals on Saturday and holidays, also for processions arriving after 3:00 P.M. All arrangements for interments must be made in the cemetery office by noon of the previous day, with the exception of Monday interments, for which arrangements must be made in the cemetery office by noon of the previous Friday. On holidays on which interments are made, arrangements must be made in the cemetery office by noon of the previous workday. The supervisor may refuse to make an interment until a more expedient time if too many funerals are scheduled to arrive at the same hour.
Most recent price list can be seen here.
Urn Graves* are approximately 3’ x 3’. These areas can be used for as many as 4 cremations, but only one stone is allowed. If a government marker is placed on the site, no other marker is allowed.
Disinterments** are allowed only after a release is signed. When disinterment involves the removal of a concrete or metal container, the Funeral Director must also engage a vault company for the disinterment. Board of Health laws prohibits removals between May 15th and October 15th.
Monuments
1. Monuments and markers may be erected subject to the approval of the Commissioners. Only granite and bronze will be allowed.
2. Signed orders with designs and specifications must be submitted to the Commissioners. No statues or objectionable designs will be permitted.
3. Lot numbers must be on the base on the stone.
4. All monuments must be uniform in size:
Single Grave 2-0 x 1-0 x 3-0 high
Two Graves 3-0 x 1-0 x 3-0 high
Three Grave 3-6 x 1-0 x 4-0 high
Flat Markers:
Single Grave 2-0 x 1-0 or 2-0 x 1-2
Two Grave 3-0 x 1-2
Three Grave 3-6 x 1-2
The cemetery department is not responsible for any damage to monuments or markers.
5. The cemetery department must do all building of foundations. Orders for foundations will not be accepted after November 20th until the frost is out of the ground in the spring. Orders for foundations for Memorial Day will not be accepted after the 20th of May.
All work in the cemetery must be done during working hours.
Cemetery Decoration Policy
No bushes or shrubs are to be planted in the new section or in flat marker sections. Any plants that were previously planted and require replacement will not be allowed to be replaced. Flower beds, in appropriate areas, are required to conform to size and will be placed not more than 8 inches from the face of the monument. Flowerbeds are not allowed in the new or flat marker sections. Artificial flowers are not permitted to be placed in the ground anywhere throughout the cemetery.
No enclosures of any kind/material are allowed, including fences, ditches, curbs, stones, boxes, urns or granite enclosures.
No lights are allowed whatsoever, including candles, vigil lights, solar lights, strings of lights, any type of light that is operated with a battery or battery pack. These items are also not allowed to be in effect while a visitor may be at a gravesite.
No shepherd hooks or other items are allowed that would compromise the safety of the ground crew as maintenance routines are carried out. When in doubt about an item, please ask the Supervisor.
Potted plants, flowers, baskets and cemetery logs are allowed on any given holiday or on a day that signifies a special occasion, i.e. an anniversary or birthday. Wreaths or sprays of evergreens will be allowed during the Christmas season
All decorations will be removed starting 10 days after a holiday or special occasion and may be subject to removal if it becomes unsightly before 10 days are up.
The cemetery will not be responsible for, or damage to, any flowers, decorations, holders, statues, receptacles or any type of memorializing item that is left at a grave. The cemetery suggests not placing items of any actual or personal worth at the graves. Any items will be replaced or fixed by the family and not the cemetery.
The cemetery must take into account the well being of the cemetery grounds as well as the conservation land that sits within the confines of the cemetery. Therefore no decorations are allowed on cemetery property.
All visitors to the cemetery who wish to keep a memorializing item are encouraged to return to the gravesite within the appropriate amount of time and remove it themselves for safekeeping.
The cemetery asks that for any specific requests or questions regarding this policy please see the Supervisor or address your concerns to the Cemetery Commissioners.
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