Cemetery matter awaits action

MARLBORO — No action had been taken as of Monday by the state regarding an auction of construction equipment that was held at the Marlboro Memorial Cemetery, Route 79, June 26.

The state has not meted out any punishment regarding the matter, said Jeff Lamm, a spokesman for the state Division of Consumer Affairs.

In June, a spokeswoman for the New Jersey Cemetery Board, Newark, said the board’s rules state that “cemeteries must be operated exclusively as cemeteries.”

Joseph Spalliero, president of Marl-boro Memorial Cemetery, told the News Transcript on July 1 that an auction of construction equipment was held at the site. He said the auction was conducted by the contractor that builds mauso-leums at the cemetery.

“The cemetery board was contacted by the Marlboro zoning office regarding this matter and asked for more information,” Lamm said.

Marlboro Zoning Officer Sarah Paris, who reported the auction to the board, said, “I told the board there was an ad in the newspaper for the sale of equipment and a sign up at the cemetery [announcing] an auction. I assumed [the board] would come here and take pictures of the construction equipment” at the cemetery.

Paris added that she had also provided the board with a notice of violation she had sent to the cemetery.

“I gave the board what it needed to start an investigation,” Paris said.