LIVERMORE — The Cemetery Committee has been asked to develop a plan to remove large pine trees threatening headstones from the Lakeside Cemetery on Route 4.

It is estimated that to remove all 26 trees at once would cost about $50,000, town administrative assistant Kurt Schaub said Friday.

“From a financial standpoint, it is pretty much impossible to do it all at one time,” Schaub said.

The trees are clustered in two areas. One is on top of the hillside adjacent to Route 4, and the other is next to Brettuns Pond.

Cemetery Committee Chairman Tim Cox updated the select board on Dec. 19 on the tree situation. He told selectpersons that many headstones are at risk, including some of Revolutionary War veterans, Schaub said. 

Cox and Schaub had discussed the matter prior to the meeting, and it was suggested the tree removal be done in stages over the next two or three years to make it more affordable to the town.

That way, voters wouldn’t be asked to foot the entire bill all at once and have it significantly affect the tax rate, Schaub said.

He will work with the Cemetery Committee to develop an affordable plan, Schaub said.

dperry@sunjournal.com