Heather Wright
The Independent

Plympton-Wyoming Mayor Lonny Napper is calling for compassion as the town tries to clean up the grounds of the Wyoming Cemetery.
Council agreed with the Cemetery Board that some overgrown shrubs and damaged makeshift memorials should be removed from the grounds of the cemetery. Deputy Mayor Muriel Wright, who is a member of the committee, says some of the items present a hazard to workers when they’re cutting the lawn and people visiting the cemetery.
Pictures provided by staff showed headstones completely covered by trees which originally planted as memorials but weren’t properly cared for. Others show small items and solar lights around the base of stones.
The cemetery board earlier had notified the community it would be cleaning up the grounds and removing items which could cause a hazard. Councillors were flooded with calls of concern.
Mayor Napper says the uproar is nothing new. “Every year this comes up,” he says adding the cemetery does need some work. “It’s overgrown, but it is a lot better than it used to be.”
But he says many people have a lot of sentimental feelings towards the stones of their loved ones.
He says the biggest problem with doing a clean up isn’t removing the items, its making sure people understand what’s going on and why the items are being removed.
“Some people said they weren’t made aware of it,” says Napper.
Councillors agreed to give residents until Oct. 15 to remove questionable items before the municipality goes in to clean up.
But Napper urged staff to be understanding.
“Use the upmost compassion you can with these people and use your communication skills with them and be kind to them while you’re doing it.”