TOWN OF WESTMINSTER, MA
POLICY FOR THE NAMING OF PUBLIC LAND AND FACILITIES
AND PLACEMENT OF MEMORIALS
PURPOSE:
This policy provides the basis for acceptance and approval of proposals for commemorative naming and placement of memorials in or on public land and facilities located within the boundaries of the Town of Westminster.
AUTHORITY:
1. The Board of Selectmen shall be responsible for the naming (or renaming) of any Town owned land or facility. A facility shall be defined as a building, portion of a building, driveway, or other parcel or portion of a parcel of land and places or natural features contained therein, but shall not include a street or way under the control of the Public Works Commission or any library or property related thereto under the control of the Library Board of Trustees. Once a facility has been named, renaming will be approved only by the Board of Selectmen.
2. The Board of Selectmen shall be responsible for approval of the placement of memorial objects, artwork, signs, sculptures, banners, benches, trees or other plantings, fountains, detached structures, and walls in or on any Town owned land or facility, as defined above.
PROCEDURES AND CRITERIA:
1. Appointment of Memorial Committee:
a. The Board of Selectmen shall appoint a permanent committee to be known as the Memorial Committee to assist with the Board’s review of any proposal, including size, type of materials and all design features. The Memorial Committee will meet on an as-needed basis to review such proposal(s). The Committee shall be comprised of nine members, including one representative appointed by each of the following:
i. Cemetery Commission
ii. Conservation Commission
iii. Planning Board
iv. Parks and Recreation Commission
v. Historical Commission
vi. Veterans Services Department
vii. Public Works Commission, and
viii. Two citizens at large, appointed by the Board of Selectmen
The Committee shall serve for an indefinite term
2. Duties of Memorial Committee:
a. The Board of Selectmen shall refer proposals to the Committee for its review. Such review shall ensure that a proposal is in the best interests of the town and shall offer recommendations as to the approval of such memorials and any conditions to be included with any such approval.
b. The Committee shall be responsible for preparing and maintaining an inventory of existing memorials. The Committee shall monitor the condition of said memorials and shall make recommendations to the Board of Selectmen regarding the rehabilitation, renovation or repair of such existing memorials.
3. Memorial Proposal Review Process/Criteria:
a. Upon receipt of a memorial proposal, the Board of Selectmen shall cause written notice of such proposal to be published in a local paper inviting written public comments to be submitted to the Memorial Committee.
b. Out of respect to the deceased, no proposal for a new memorial shall be filed within ninety (90) days of the death of the person for whom the memorial is to be named.
c. The Memorial Committee shall submit a written, signed recommendation to the Board of Selectmen within a review period of not less than ninety and more than one hundred twenty days from the date of the referral of a memorial proposal to the Memorial Committee.
d. The Memorial Committee shall review the names of existing land and facilities to avoid duplication, confusing similarity or inappropriateness.
e. Recommendation of the placement of a memorial object, artwork, sign, or other fixture will only be made after a determination by the Memorial Committee that the proposal will not:
i. Limit physical access to the site
ii. Endanger the safety of the public
iii. Interfere with any utility or access thereto
iv. Be limited by unacceptable special restrictions, conditions or covenants
v. Create a significant budgetary obligation on the Town for which no provisions have been made.
f. The Board of Selectmen shall vote on the memorial proposal at a regularly scheduled meeting of the Board.
g. No donation of memorial objects, artwork, signs or fixtures shall be made to the Town until and unless it is formally accepted by the Board of Selectmen in accordance with state and local laws.
h. If such memorial will require a significant budgetary obligation to maintain, the Board of Selectmen shall condition acceptance thereof on the provision by the proponent of a fund sufficient to meet that obligation prior to acceptance.
