Trustees of Public Burial Grounds

FITCHBURG CITY CLERK Sep 15 2022 4:11 pm City of Fitchburg, Massachusetts TRUSTEES OF PUBLIC BURIAL GROUNDS 115 Mt. Elam Road Fitchburg, MA 01420 Office: 978-345-9578 FAX: 978-345-9686 www.fitchburgma.gov CEMETERY TRUSTEE BOARD MEETING MINUTES Thursday, June 16, 2022 The Cemetery Trustee Board meeting was held in the West Meeting Room, 1st Floor at City Hall, 718 Main St. An online link and phone number were provided for those who wished to participate remotely. Call to Order: Chair Judith A. Perla called the meeting to order at 9:05 a.m. Trustee Members Present: Judith A. Perla, Diane R. Ouellette, Andrew J. Hawthorne, Michelle Sciabarrasi Others Present: Nicholas J. Erickson, PE - Commissioner of Public Works Others Present Remotely: Jaquelyn R. Poirier – Cemetery Superintendent, Sally Cragin – Stratton Players (joined the meeting at 9:16 a.m.) Public Forum: No one was present, either in person or remotely, wishing to speak. Review and Approval of Meeting Minutes: A motion was made by Andrew Hawthorne and seconded by Diane Ouellette to approve the minutes from the board meeting held on May 19, 2022. Michelle Sciabarrasi abstained from voting as she did not attend that meeting. Vote was 3 in favor with one abstention. The motion passed, and the minutes were approved. Staff Report: Cemetery Department Report 6/16/2022- Progress report given by Jaquelyn Poirier Forest Hill Routine maintenance of grounds - Cleaned graves to comply with specifications - Pick up down limbs from all cemeteries - Maintenance – lawn mower, gator - Clean trash from bike path and Forest Hill - Watering of graves and flowers  INTERMENTS 1 INURNMENTS 6 UP RIGHTED MONUMENTS 2 UNCOVERED FLAT MONUMENTS MONUMENT FOUNDATION 15 MARKING/PHOTOS CATCH BASIN REPAIR/CLEAN FILLED SINK HOLES TRIMMED TREES TRIMMED SHRUBS 3 PHONE/OUTSIDE MEETINGS WITH FAMILIES 70 PAYMENTS - INVOICED/PROCESSED 34 FAMILY GENEALOGY 26 Laurel Hill, South Street, West Street & Dean Hill & Hartwell Cutting and trimming Cemetery Staff - 4 Full-Time Workers - 2 Summer Help - 1 Superintendent Administration Routine administration tasks - Cemetery Software – meetings with CompuTemps – data base additions and edits - Columbaria area – meeting with Commissioner and Engineering concept design with topography 40 % complete - Facilities Director – mausoleum roof – working on scope of work for RFQ – Office and Garage - Working on end of year FY22 - Tested new product – dry lube on mower decks - Meeting with Trustee – Laurel Hill data - 154 graves left for sale in Forest Hill - DPW working on expansion wall Page 2 of 5 Before 6.15.2022 Page 3 of 5 Security Camera for Laurel Hill – Revisit: Commissioner Erickson will be meeting with the Chief of Police to discuss use of temporary cameras in Laurel Hill Cemetery. Stratton Players Performance for September: Sally Cragin gave a brief outline of the program “Still Chasing the Fire” proposed for September 10th at Forest Hill Cemetery. This program will honor Veterans of the Civil War who went on to serve as Fitchburg firefighters, and is a collaboration between the Fitchburg Fire Department, the City of Fitchburg, the Fitchburg Historical Society, and the Fitchburg Cemetery Department. An Honor Guard from the Fitchburg Fire Department will participate, as well as several actors from Stratton Players. When asked, Ms. Cragin stated that this will not be a fund raiser. After answering questions, Ms. Cragin left the meeting. Chair Perla then addressed the questions that were asked during the last meeting regarding a city councilor representing an outside entity to obtain board permission for these types of events. Having cemetery personnel receiving overtime pay for working at these events was also discussed, along with the possibility of seeking reimbursement for cemetery costs at future events. Chair Perla read opinions from the city solicitor on both questions. After a lengthy discussion, a motion was made by Andrew Hawthorne and seconded by Diane Ouellette to approve the “Still Chasing the Fire” program. Roll call vote was unanimous, motion passed, and the program was approved. Chair Perla will notify Ms. Cragin of the approval and set up a meeting with her for further discussion of issues with future events. Work started on Columbarium Area: The DPW has started work on the wall along Rollstone Road for the expansion of the area behind the Columbarium. Video Presentation for City Council: Michelle Sciabarrasi is still working on the mausoleum video presentation. The board will hold a Special Meeting in August to view the final version. New Business: There was no new business to discuss. Events: A Special Meeting to review the final version of the mausoleum video presentation will be held on August 25, 2022, at 9:00 A.M. in the West Meeting Room at City Hall, 718 Main St. The next regular meeting will be held on Thursday, September 15, 2022 at 9 A.M. in the West Meeting Room at City Hall, 718 Main St. Adjournment: There being no further business, Diane Ouellette made a motion to adjourn the meeting and Michelle Sciabarrasi seconded the motion. Vote was unanimous and Chair Judith Perla adjourned the meeting at 10:45 A.M. Meeting Schedule 2022: NO REGULAR MEETINGS in July & August September 15th Page 4 of 5 October 20th November 17th NO MEETING in December Respectfully submitted, Diane R. Ouellette Clerk, Trustees of Public Burial Grounds Distribution: Cemetery Trustees Jaquelyn R. Poirier, Cemetery Superintendent Nicholas J. Erickson, P.E., Commissioner of Public Works & City Engineer Gary Withington, Superintendent of Streets Honorable Mayor Stephen L. DiNatale Natalia Oliver, Mayor’s Chief of Staff Joan David, Administrative Aide to the Mayor Joanna Bilotta-Simeone, City Clerk Bernard J. Schultz, Ward 1 Councilor Amy L. Green, Councilor-At-Large Tricia Chabot Page 5 of 5