Trustees of Public Burial Grounds

FITCHBURG CITY CLERK Mar 22 2024 1:36 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 FEBRUARY 15, 2024 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 9:12 am. Trustees Present: J. Perla, G. Mirijanian, A. Hawthorne and M. Sciabarrasi. Others Present: Nick Erickson, DPW Commissioner, Jaquelyn Poirier, Cemetery Superintendent, Liz Murphy, Executive Director Community Development & Planning Department and Myles Phillips-Wilcox, Deputy Chief of Staff. Remotely Present: No one present. Public Forum: No one was present, either in person or remotely, wishing to speak. #1. Liz Murphy spoke on the ARPA funding for the City of Fitchburg and projects this funding is subject to. A long lengthy discussion was had about this topic. Apparently the at this time the ARPA funding has all been delegated to projects. Supt. Poirier asked if a plan project already funded does not go forward can that money be used to help the cemetery and or the Forest Hill Abbey project? Ms. Murphy said all the monies have been appropriated and if we had a project that fell under the ARPA funding the project would have to be under contract now. ANYONE WISHING TO HAVE MORE INFORMATION ON THIS TOPIC CAN VIEW THE MEETING ON FATV.ORG. #2. Review and Approval of Meeting Minutes: G. Mirijanian made a motion to accept the meeting minutes of January 18, 2024 meeting minutes with a correction on the spelling of Mr. Hawthorne’s name. Seconded by M. Sciabarrasi. All in favor of approving the minutes. Motion passed. #3. Superintendent’s Report: Cemetery Department Report 2/15/2024 - Progress report given by Jaquelyn Poirier Forest Hill Routine maintenance of grounds - Cleaned graves to comply with specifications - Cut & painted posts for water spigots - Cleared catch basins - Hauled fill to pit - Organized garage - Snow removal - T27 inspection sticker/ new plow blade INTERMENTS 2 INURNMENTS UP RIGHTED MONUMENTS UNCOVERED FLAT MONUMENTS MONUMENT FOUNDATION MARKING/PHOTOS CATCH BASIN REPAIR/CLEAN FILLED SINK HOLES TRIMMED TREES TRIMMED SHRUBS PHONE/OUTSIDE MEETINGS WITH FAMILIES 22 PAYMENTS - INVOICED/PROCESSED 23 FAMILY GENEALOGY 13 Cemetery Staff - 3 Full-Time Workers – 1 Co-op Monty Tech Student - 1 Superintendent Administration Routine administration tasks Cemetery Software Meetings with CompuTemps Working on lot/grave project General Price Sheet and Rules – updated rules Informational meeting with Coast – scheduling application Working on FY25 budget Collection arrangements with families LMEO position posted, reviewing applications 2024 Inventory List Meeting with Leominster Cemetery – BOH burial changes Working with Engineering – water issues –section Q & Columbarium area Memorial Gardens Ordered (2) benches Waiting on paving Engineering also working on how we track available graves (maps) – CAD Mausoleum Mausoleum – update meeting on initial findings and schedule – Spencer Group Currently waiting for snow to be off roof – roof cut needed Columbarium Working on draft specifications for new 72 niche unit  Mausoleum site inspection – Spenser Group 1.23.2024 Motion to approve the Superintendent’s report made by A. Hawthorne seconded by M. Sciabarrasi. All in favor. Motion passed. #4. Update on Forest Hill Abbey: There is still snow on the roof of the Abbey so no roof cut or other work can be preformed at this time. Still waiting for better weather to complete this task. #5. Update on Rules & Regulations Drafts: Supt. Poirier has completed the wording changes requested by the Trustees to the Rules & Regulations. The motion to approve the changes was made by A. Hawthorne and seconded by J. Perla. All in favor. Motion passed. #6. Overview of Subcommittee’s report for FY25 Budget: Chair Perla gave a brief report on the FY25 budget. DPW Commissioner Erickson will have his meeting with the mayor shortly. He will explain the line items such as the ground penetrating scan which will be preformed in the cemetery at the far corner near Clifton Street where we hope to place double depth vaults which will provide more space and prolong the life of the cemetery a few more years hopefully.There will be additional funding needed to complete this task. He will have a better answer for us at the next meeting. #7. Review of Clerk’s position.: This position was voted on to transfer the clerk’s position to the Chair for future meetings. The motion was made by A. Hawthorne and seconded by M. Sciabarrasi. All in favor. Motion passed. Events: The next meeting will be held on Thursday March 21,2024 at 9 AM in the West Meeting Room at City Hall, 718 Main Street, Fitchburg MA 01420 Adjournment: Meeting adjourned at 10:40 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