§ 5481. Acquisition of land and property—Purchase or gift The right to acquire land and property for cemetery purposes, either by purchase or gift, by towns, churches, religious or ecclesiastical societies, and cemetery associations is hereby affirmed under the conditions and restrictions set forth in this chapter.
§ 5482. Eminent domain The right to acquire land and property for cemetery purposes by condemnation proceedings by towns and cemetery associations is hereby granted under the conditions and restrictions set forth in this chapter.
§ 5483. Acquisition of land by town When it is necessary to enlarge a public burial ground or to establish a new one, three or more freeholders of the town may apply in writing to the selectboard, setting forth such necessity with a description of the land necessary for the purpose. The selectboard shall thereupon […]
§ 5484. Acquisition of gravel by town or association (a) When public necessity requires that a burial ground be raised or portions thereof filled up with gravel or earth, and the town or association owning or managing the same cannot agree with the owner of such gravel or earth for its purchase, three or more […]
§ 5485. Appeal to Superior Court When, in accordance with the provisions of this chapter, a person owning or having an interest in lands taken for a burial ground, or gravel or earth for the same, is dissatisfied with such taking or with the damages awarded to him or her by the selectboard in such […]
§ 5487. Acquisition of land by cemetery associations generally A cemetery association may acquire by gift, purchase at its fair cash market value, or devise, such lands as may be necessary for its cemetery purposes. If the consent of the selectboard and local board of health is first had and obtained in writing, such association […]
§ 5488. Enlargement of cemeteries by associations—Petition to Superior Court to acquire land When an incorporated cemetery association wishes to enlarge the limits of its burial ground, and votes to purchase additional land for burial purposes and the owner of such land refuses to convey the same to such cemetery association for a reasonable compensation, […]
§ 5489. Service of petition; appointment of commissioners The petition with a citation shall be served on the owner of such land like a summons. On such application, the court may appoint three disinterested persons residing in some other town as commissioners.
§ 5490. Notice; hearing The commissioners shall appoint a time and place for examination of the premises and appraisal of the damages. They shall give six days’ notice thereof to the president or to one or more of the trustees of such association, and to the owner or occupant of such land either personally or […]
§ 5491. Survey; damages When the commissioners decide that public necessity and convenience require the enlargement of such burial grounds, and the amount needed, they shall cause the same to be surveyed, and shall ascertain what damages will be sustained by the owner of such land.
§ 5492. Report, filing When the commissioners have completed their inquiries, they shall make report, stating their doings and decision, with their survey and appraisal of damages. Such report shall be returned to and filed in the office of the clerk of the court within 30 days after the completion of such inquiry.
§ 5493. Judgment on report; costs The court may accept or reject the report, render judgment thereon, tax costs as it deems just, and issue execution for damages and costs.
§ 5494. Title to lands taken Such cemetery association shall not take possession of such lands until the damages and costs are paid. When so paid, a valid title to the lands so taken shall vest in such association, and the same may be used for burial purposes.
