State of Connecticut Office of Policy and Management

Neglected Cemetery Account Grant Program

C.G.S. Sec. 19a-308b established the Neglected Cemetery Account and authorizes OPM to make grants to eligible municipalities for the purpose of municipal maintenance of neglected burial grounds and cemeteries, as described in C.G.S. Sec. 19a-308.  This program is funded from death certificate fees collected by the Department of Public Health, pursuant to C.G.S. §7-74(b)(2). 

Pursuant to C.G.S. Sec. 19a-308(a) a “neglected cemetery” is:

  • a burial ground or cemetery containing more than six places of interment;
  • a burial ground or cemetery that has been neglected and allowed to grow up to weeds, briars and bushes, or about which the fences have become broken, decayed or dilapidated.

Not only does state law protect Connecticut's ancient burial grounds and historic grave markers, it also mandates the respectful renovation and maintenance of historic cemeteries. These protections cover any tract of land within a municipality that has been used as a burial ground for more than 100 years, which is defined as an ancient burial ground.  See: Historic Cemeteries and Gravestone Protection.

Allowable Uses of Grant Funds: 

In accordance with C.G.S. Sec. 19a-308(a), only expenditures for the following four types of work can be reimbursed with Neglected Cemetery Account Grant funds:

  • Clearing of weeds, briars and bushes;
  • Mowing of the ground's lawn areas;
  • Repairing of the ground’s fences or walls; and
  • Straightening, repair or restoration of memorial stones.

Eligibility:

  • Municipality means any town, city or borough, consolidated town and city or consolidated town and borough.

  • In no event shall a municipality receive a grant unless and until the secretary determines, in the secretary’s sole discretion, that the municipality has fully utilized or has plans to fully utilize any other funds previously granted to such municipality.

Guidelines and Information: 
  CT General Statutes Chapter 368j Cemeteries 

  Historic Cemeteries and Gravestone Protection

 

Grant Awards:

For those who have successfully submitted all required contract documents and have received a copy of their fully executed (signed by both grantee and OPM) Notice of Grant Award Contract, click the link below for instructions on how to request a reimbursement.

CLICK HERE FOR INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO REQUEST REIMBURSEMENT

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CONTACTS:

For questions related to required contract submissions, contact Debra.McCarthy@ct.gov, 860.418.6297

For programmatic questions, contact Martin.Heft@ct.gov, 860.418.6355