MEETING MINUTES
Cemetery Board of Trustees
February 26, 2001 – 7:00 pm
– City Hall
ROLL CALL – Members Present: Chairwoman Olson, Trustee Knapp, Trustee
Grzywacz. ABSENT: Trustee Robertson, Trustee Dougherty
Also
Present: Mark Hammar
APPROVAL OF MINUTES – It was moved by Trustee
Knapp and seconded by Trustee Grzywacz to approve the meeting minutes of
November 27, 2000 as written.
MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY
OLD BUSINESS – Administration explained the
need to specify an approved vase and holder for crypt and niche fronts at the
Riverside Mausoleum in an effort to project a clean, uniform look and to
eliminate the need for such prohibited items at plastic hooks and wire
hangers. Trustee Grzywacz was pleased that
this matter was being addressed and favored specifying a bronze vase over the
less durable plastic model. Chairwoman
Olson also commented that she was in favor of the bronze vase and felt the
total cost for the bronze vase and holder ($107) would not be considered
excessive by the public.
The
following Resolution was offered by Trustee Grzywacz and seconded by Trustee
Knapp:
WHEREAS The City of Plymouth operates a Municipal
Cemetery to help protect the public health, safety and welfare, and
WHEREAS The City has a Cemetery Board of Trustees
that makes recommendations for the proper control, maintenance, and improvement
of the City cemeteries, and
WHEREAS The Administration is recommending a
bronze vase and holder as the approved unit for purchase by families to install
on crypt/niche fronts at a total cost of $107.00
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED
THAT the Cemetery Board of Trustees does hereby adopt the bronze
vase and holder as the approved unit for crypt/niche fronts at Riverside Mausoleum
effective March 1, 2001,
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT
the City Administration is authorized to generate brochures for distribution
to the public which includes pricing and other pertinent information and is
further authorized to advise current crypt/niche owners of this change in regulations as well as the
availability of the bronze vase and holder.
Chairwoman
Olson commented on the proliferation of plastic hooks and other hangers
currently being placed on crypt/niche fronts and requested that DMS cemetery
staff monitor this situation and remove all prohibited items found attached to
crypt/niche fronts at Riverside Mausoleum.
She also commented on a similar situation taking place in Block K, where
numerous prohibited decorations, such as plastic planters, are accumulating,
and where several grave blankets have been blown off of gravesites due to the
recent high winds and lay scattered throughout Block K. An additional request was made by Chairwoman
Olson that DMS cemetery staff continue to be diligent in removing these items
throughout Block K.
NEW BUSINESS – Chairwoman Olson presented
to the Board a status report on the confirmation of burial of Revolutionary War
Veteran Samuel Dunn in Riverside Cemetery.
She has been in contact with the Plymouth Historical Museum, who has
also been researching the matter in an effort to procure a historical marker
for the cemetery. There is some
conflict in that there are reports that a Samuel Dunn is also buried in
Parkview Cemetery in Livonia.
Chairwoman Olson assured the Board that she will continue to keep in
contact with Museum staff on this matter.
The
Administration noted that the City of Plymouth Code of Ordinances states that
the Cemetery Board will meet each July for the purpose of electing a
chairperson to serve a one year term. Discussion was held regarding the
decision to move this matter to the agenda for the August 27, 2001 meeting
instead of holding a separate meeting in July. It was moved by Trustee Knapp
and seconded by Trustee Grzywacz to hold the election of chairperson of the
Cemetery Board of Trustees at the August 27, 2001 meeting.
MOTION
PASSED UNANIMOUSLY
Mr. John Powers, who owns Lot 156, Block B, a two-grave
plot, submitted a request to the Board to consider the placement of three (3)
posts connected by a chain along two sides of his corner plot. He also requested the placement of a 3’ x 2’
x 1’ sitting rock inside the chained area.
All of these items would be purchased by Mr. Powers and installed by DMS
staff. The Administration explained
that the location of the chain and rock would be directed so as not to impede
maintenance or burial operations in Block B, and that the posts and chain must
be a vinyl-clad type, white in color, versus a galvanized painted post and
chain. Trustee Grzywacz inquired as to
whether approval of this request might precipitate additional future requests
for post and chain on other corner plots. Administration stated that currently
only two other areas in Riverside Cemetery have this type of protective guard
around them, and that all future requests for this type of installation would
be scrutinized carefully. Trustee Knapp
stated that he sees no problem in granting Mr. Powers request, based on the
conditions set forth by the Administration.
It was moved by Trustee Grzywacz and seconded by Trustee Knapp
that Mr. Powers request for the placement of posts and chain and a sitting
rock, to be placed in the area between his plot and the road right-of-way as
noted on his drawing, be approved.
MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY
STAFF REPORT - Chairwoman
Olson made note of the staff report and inquired further into the damage
sustained by the Mausoleum during the recent heavy rains. She was advised that
all restoration measures were taken at the time to remove water and stains from
the carpet, and that some additional cleaning measures may need to be taken in
the spring. Additional repairs to the
built-up roof may also be required.
Chairwoman also commented on the progress that Nancy Polderdyke has made
on transferring paper cemetery files to computer disk. She was referred to the John Powers case as
an example where all the information had been compiled on one sheet, including
the plot layout.
Trustee Knapp inquired as to the current status of
completing the paving of roadways at Riverside. He was advised that this is a
budgeted item and will again be placed on the 2001-02 budget requests this
year. There is also the possibility of
having the work completed during upcoming street paving programs, when a more
economical price can be obtained.
Trustee Grzywacz commented on the current condition of the
cemetery and the need to continue to keep the cemetery in good condition. Board members were unanimous in their praise
for the job that former DMS employee Rod Hage performed while on duty at
Riverside, and hoped that DMS can assign another employee to continue in that
same manner.
It was moved by Trustee Knapp and seconded by Trustee Grzywacz
to adjourn the meeting at 7:25 pm.
