Cemetery Commission

CITY OF SALEM, MASSACHUSETTS CEMETERY COMMISSION RON HARRISON, CHAIRMAN 98 WASHINGTON STREET - MAILING GORDON WILKINS, CO-CHAIRMAN KIMBERLEY DRISCOLL ADDRESS MARY ANNE SILVA, SECRETARY MAYOR SALEM, MASSACHUSETTS 01970 BOARD MEMBERS: TEL. (978)745-0195 PATRICIA DONAHUE, FAX (978) 741-7041 ANTHONY O’DONNELL CEMETERY COMMISSION MINUTES Tuesday, September 11, 2018 6:30 PM Call to Order: Meeting was called to order at 6:30 pm Role Call: Ron Harrison, Mary Anne Silva, Patricia Donahue, Gordon Wilkins, Anthony O’Donnell (arrived @ 6:42) July 16, 2018 Minutes: Pat Donahue made a motion to dispense with the reading of the July 16, 2018 minutes, seconded by Gordon Wilkins. AIF. Next Meeting: October 9, 2018 at 6:30 pm in SATV Conference Room Kelly Ryan: Provided documentation for the Commissioners to discuss and approve the Rules for Burial, Former Resident Purchase and Burial, and Welfare Burials for discussion. Motion made by Gordon Wilkins, seconded by Ron Harrison to approve the following Rules for Burial. AIF. Rules For Burial: Interment service rates are ninety (90) minutes from the scheduled time of arrival to completion of the grave closure. Overtime charges will apply for any services that exceed the ninety (90) minute time frame and payment is expected at time of service. There will be no lowering of the casket while the family is present unless a Vault with a Way has been purchased from an outside vendor. Motion made by Pat Donahue to accept the resident requirement and grave purchase as discussed, seconded by Gordon Wilkins. AIF. Purchase of Graves and Rule for Former Resident Purchase and Burial: To be considered a former Salem Resident, the person must have resided in Salem for a minimum of one full year and moved from Salem within the last five (5) years to be grandfathered as a former Salem Resident. Proof of former residency is required before burial arrangements/services are made and former Resident pricing rates apply. The Cemetery Commission makes the final decision when the residency requirement is disputed. Page1 Grave purchases are by Salem residents for Salem residents only. Know your rights under the Open Meeting Law M.G.L. c. 30A §18-25 and City Ordinance Sections 2-2028 through 2-2033  CITY OF SALEM, MASSACHUSETTS CEMETERY COMMISSION RON HARRISON, CHAIRMAN 98 WASHINGTON STREET - MAILING GORDON WILKINS, CO-CHAIRMAN KIMBERLEY DRISCOLL ADDRESS MARY ANNE SILVA, SECRETARY MAYOR SALEM, MASSACHUSETTS 01970 BOARD MEMBERS: TEL. (978)745-0195 PATRICIA DONAHUE, FAX (978) 741-7041 ANTHONY O’DONNELL More research will be done for the Welfare Burials and it will be added to the next meeting agenda. Sean McCrea’s Report:  Pollinator Garden: Sean will be requesting $9000 from the Meldon Fund for the pollinator garden. Sean said there is a gray area as to whether he needs to get landscape construction approval from the Commission. Sean thinks it would be cumbersome to request all plantings be approved by the Commission. Gordon feels that this is a large undertaking to be including without oversight or direct permission from the Cemetery Commission. Mary Anne questioned if it is conservation/wetland and if so do we have the right to develop it without approval from the Conservation Commission. Gordon stated that submission in advance would have been the way to go because of the amount of money spent so far and the flower request. Mary Anne questioned a boundary between the road and street-Sean said there would be one.  Discussion ensued that if the Friends groups are applying undue pressure on Sean they should be directed to the Cemetery Commission.  Rachel Meyer is certified and up to date on the best practices for cleaning/restoration. She is a certified stone preservationist and a city employee. Beth Rennard requested the volunteers sign waivers.  Charter Street will be open through October. Last year seemed not to have enough coordination to control the limit of 100 at a time admittance during October. Ron will contact Ellen Talkowsky, Special Accouts Coordinator, with the issues discussed as the employees are part of her budget. Status of Restructured Cemetery Ordinance On August 14, 2018 the Commission approved the addition to Section 16-69 the FIFTH provision to restructure the Ordinance. It was approved by Beth Rennard. A letter was sent to Mayor Driscoll dated September 6, 2018 to be forwarded to the City Council where it will go into Committee for review. Essex Street Friends Cemetery Gordon will research this for signage to complement the cemetery and have something within the next few weeks. Dickson Chapel Maintenance The side doors on the Chapel are an embarrassment. The doors don’t fit. This was done with the Planning Dept (Erin Shaeffer) and was paid for by a $10000 grand from a Salem bank. They have been installed twice. Will put on October Agenda to discuss with Patti Kelleher. Page2 Know your rights under the Open Meeting Law M.G.L. c. 30A §18-25 and City Ordinance Sections 2-2028 through 2-2033  CITY OF SALEM, MASSACHUSETTS CEMETERY COMMISSION RON HARRISON, CHAIRMAN 98 WASHINGTON STREET - MAILING GORDON WILKINS, CO-CHAIRMAN KIMBERLEY DRISCOLL ADDRESS MARY ANNE SILVA, SECRETARY MAYOR SALEM, MASSACHUSETTS 01970 BOARD MEMBERS: TEL. (978)745-0195 PATRICIA DONAHUE, FAX (978) 741-7041 ANTHONY O’DONNELL Payment of Outstanding Bill This happens every year due to Finance mandating that the budget line used needs to be zero’d out on July 1 and the Council not meeting. It should be a revolving account. Finance needs to be asked not to zero out the burial services line every July 1st. When funds are released they will be paid. Cemetery Commission should write a letter to Laurie about correcting this. Discussion on Permitting for the Use of Cemeteries Pat will explore the possibilities for usage of the Chapel, weddings, funerals, etc. Closing Charter Street During Restroration Patti Kelleher will take care of posting signs Trust Fund Analysis Anthony has been in contact with Kay. She will get back to him. New Business Sean is going to be requesting a Special Meeting to consider a vote to access Meldon Fund money. Next Tuesday would be great. Mary Anne can’t make it but will confirm with Patrick Kennedy that the room is available. Discussion is needed as to the future of Greenlawn Cemetery or burials in Salem. We will close the open session and go into executive session to discuss a personnel issue. Pat Donahue made a motion to adjourn at 8:00 pm, seconded by Anthony O’Donnell. AIF. Page3 Know your rights under the Open Meeting Law M.G.L. c. 30A §18-25 and City Ordinance Sections 2-2028 through 2-2033