The town is seeking the reformation of the defunct Riverside Cemetery Association, with the ownership of the cemetery having been in a state of legal limbo for several years.

A complaint has been directed at the Riverside Cemetery Association and Maine Attorney General Janet Mills. Mills is named as a defendant because her office is responsible for ensuring charitable entities and their funds are properly managed. Mills responded to the filing saying she has no objection to the relief requested by the town. Town attorney Stephen Langsdorf said the town discussed the situation with the attorney general before the complaint was filed in January.

The suit aims to re-establish the association and appoint a new board to oversee operations and funds associated with cemetery upkeep. According to the suit, the association, which was founded in 1919, has been inactive for a significant amount of time and has no known members. Its corporate records with the secretary of state have not been updated, according to the filing.

In October 2014, then Riverside Cemetery Association President Scott Walker walked into Town Manager John Eldridge’s office with a box of maps and papers, congratulated Eldridge on being the new owner of the cemetery, and walked out. Apparently, after attempting to get local churches to oversee the nearly 200-year-old graveyard, Walker left the cemetery to the town, which has no experience running a graveyard, nor any legal claim to the property, according to previous reporting by The Times Record.

In a 2015 interview with The Times Record, Walker said there were no active board members on the cemetery association, and that the “safest thing” would be for the town to somehow take ownership of the cemetery.

Langsdorf said a copy of the filing was sent to Walker to allow him the opportunity to provide additional information about the association the town should be aware of.

The town has an interest in the management of the cemetery and to ensure its maintenance is overseen by an active corporation of residents, the complaint says. Listed are the names of four people the town would like to serve on the association, volunteers Arthur Boulay, Barbara Desmarais, Daniel Dunton and Jessica Factor. Those appointed must update bylaws, update records with the state and appoint a new agent for the association. Once the order is signed by a Cumberland County Superior Court justice, Brunswick will transfer the documents and money regarding the cemetery to that board.

Langsdorf said he expects the order will be issued soon.

What happened?

• IN OCTOBER 2014, then Riverside Cemetery Association President Scott Walker walked into Town Manager John Eldridge’s office with a box of maps and papers, congratulated Eldridge on being the new owner of the cemetery, and walked out.