Trustees of Public Burial Grounds

FITCHBURG CITY CLERK Nov 16 2023 12:36 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 October 19, 2023 The Cemetery Trustee Board meeting was held in the West Meeting Room, 1st Floor at City Hall, 718 Main Street. An online link and phone number were provided for those who wished to participate remotely. CALL TO ORDER: Chair Perla called the meeting to order at 9:10 am. Trustees Present: J. Perla, G. Mirijanian, A. Hawthorn. M. Sciabarrasi was absent. Others Present: Nick Erickson, DPW Commissioner,Jaquelyn Poirier, Cemetery Superintendent. Remotely Present: Russell Karlstad Director of Facilities for Fitchburg Public Forum: No one was present, either in person or remotely, wishing to speak. #1. Review and Approval of Meeting Minutes: A Hawthorn made motion to accepted the meeting minutes of September 14, 2023 2nd by G. Mirijanian seconded the motion. All in favor to approve the minutes. Motion passed. #2.Cemetery Department Report 10/19/2023 - Progress report given by Jaquelyn Poirier Forest Hill : Routine maintenance of grounds Cleaned graves to comply with specifications Maintenance – lawn mowers, equipment, backhoe and trucks Replacement of damaged flag holders Pick-up & T26 oil change/brakes - DPW INTERMENTS 3  INURNMENTS 4 UP RIGHTED MONUMENTS UNCOVERED FLAT MONUMENTS MONUMENT FOUNDATION 5 MARKING/PHOTOS CATCH BASIN REPAIR/CLEAN FILLED SINK HOLES 4 TRIMMED TREES TRIMMED SHRUBS PHONE/OUTSIDE MEETINGS WITH 36 FAMILIES PAYMENTS - INVOICED/PROCESSED 38 FAMILY GENEALOGY 16 Cemetery Staff - 4 Full-Time Workers – 1 Co-op Monty Tech Student - 1 Superintendent Administration Routine administration tasks Cemetery Software Weekly meetings with CompuTemps Working on lot/grave project General Working with consultant – rules/price list regarding additional interment rights in grave Revising/Adding documents – Drafts for review Meetings with Leominster Cemetery – MA State Law, prices, rules Replacing a base of stone, rocks projected from mower hit stone New 52” Gravely Stand mower purchased – replaced 2015 mower Memorial Gardens Waiting on paving Engineering also working on how we track available graves (maps) Podium – Memorial Gardens in process Mausoleum : 4 of 6 drains stolen – Facilities manager working on replacement Columbarium: Gathering information on additional unit/area layout Laurel Hill Fence Stolen 9.2023 Laurel Hill Fence Replaced  Laurel Hill Fence repair-mower damage Replace base due to mower damage The Superintendent had presented the Trustees with drafts of the rules and regulations which still need some adjustments to the language. The Superintendent has present the adjusted Price List and asked for a vote to approve the price increase. A vote in the affirmative was approved. This will now go forward to the appropriate committees for approval. A motion to approve the Superintendent’s report was made by A. Hawthorne and seconded by G. Mirijaian. The motion passed with all in favor. • #3. Russell Karlstad, Facilities Director: Updated the Trustees on the progress with the Spencer Group on the Fee Proposal. Conditions Assessment will be approximately $75,245. DPW Commissioner Erickson and Facilities Director Russell Karlstad will make the request to the Mayor. This process will keep the project on course. • Events: The next meeting will be held on Thursday November 16, 2023 at 9:00 AM in the West Meeting Room at City Hall, 718 Main Street, Fitchburg MA. 01420 • Adjournment: Meeting adjourned at 11:30 AM • Minutes of this and all other meetings can be view on the City of Fitchburg website under http://www.ci.fitchburg.ma.us Government - Meetings and Agendas - Trustees of Public Burial Grounds Respectfully submitted, Judith A. Perla ~ Chair/Clerk, Trustees of Public Burial Grounds • •