MEETING MINUTES:
Cemetery Board of Trustees
November 27, 2000 7:00 pm City Hall
ROLL CALL – Members Present: Chairwoman
Olson, Trustee Robertson, Trustee Dougherty, Trustee Grzywacz. ABSENT: Trustee Knapp.
Also
Present: Mark Hammar, Rod Hage, Nancy Polderdyke
APPROVAL OF MINUTES – It was moved by Trustee
Dougherty and seconded by Trustee Grzywacz to approve the meeting minutes of
August 28, 2000 as written.
MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY
Chairwoman Olson opened the meeting by welcoming Ms. Nancy
Polderdkye, secretary with the Department of Municipal Services. Ms. Polderdyke
requested an appearance before the Board to apprise the members of her progress
in updating and consolidating the Riverside Cemetery burial records and deeds. She showed the board members examples of
records already entered into computer software programs (letters A through C)
created by herself and Tom Alexandris, City Hall Information Systems
Manager. She stressed the importance of
continuing on with this project since accurate and complete records are vital
to determining past and future burials within Riverside Cemetery. Ms. Polderdyke suggested that a quarterly
update of the progress of the recordkeeping project be included in the Staff Report
to the Board. Chairwoman Olson commended
Ms. Polderdkye on her efforts and agreed with her statement that families rely
on the accuracy of these records.
It
was moved by Trustee Robertson and seconded by Trustee Grzywacz to support the
ongoing project of transferring paper records of burials at Riverside Cemetery
to recordkeeping software at the Department of Municipal Services office and to
keep the Board apprised of the progress through the quarterly Staff Report.
MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY
OLD BUSINESS – Mr. Rod Hage, former cemetery
crew leader, briefed the Board on the proposed Cemetery Bench program. He described the type, size, and location of
the granite bench which could be purchased by families for placement either
around the flagpole in Block K, along the Mausoleum walkways or at or near a
specific grave plot. Chairwoman Olson
noted that the Board had previously denied benches on graves at Riverside.
Administration noted that requests for benches are few and that the location
around the flagpole in Block K would enhance that section and not interfere
with maintenance operations at Riverside. In addition, each request must be
brought before the Board prior to placement of the bench. Trustee Grzywacz
voiced support for this program, and Trustee Dougherty stated that she would be
in support of the bench program provided the Board had final approval for
placement of benches in the cemetery.
It
was moved by Trustee Dougherty and seconded by Trustee Grzywacz to authorize
the Administration to develop a final draft of the Cemetery Bench Program for
review at the February 26, 2001 meeting.
MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY
Chairwoman
Olson noted some typographical errors in the most recent brochure of Cemetery
Rules & Regulations. On the front of the brochure the revised date should
read “Revised 10/16/00”. Under
Section C, paragraph 1, 4’6” is
missing the foot and inch notations.
Under Section G, paragraph 4, Block L of Riverside Cemetery should replace or. Administration noted
these errors and will advise the printer of them for correction on the next lot
of brochures.
Chairwoman
Olson made note of the numerous prohibited items that are accumulating in Block
K of Riverside. She requested that the Department of Municipal Services remove
the items that are not allowed as soon as possible, and to continue with
diligence in enforcing the rules and regulations, particularly in Block K.
Mr.
Rod Hage addressed the Board regarding the burial of Mr. Samuel Dunn at
Riverside Cemetery. Mr. Hage noted that based on his research as well as conversations
with the Plymouth Historical Museum, Mr. Dunn is a Revolutionary War Veteran
and may be entitled to a commemorative plaque provide by the State or Federal
government. Administration will pursue this matter further to ascertain whether
such a plaque is available and determine whether the cemetery is eligible for a
historical marker designating it as the burial place of a Revolutionary War
Veteran.
The
Board reviewed the matter of the crypt/niche vase that was approved at the May
22, 2000 meeting. There was some discussion that the sample vase that was
presented to the Board was not the same vase that was approved. Rod Hage noted that indeed that was the case
and that the Board had approved a plastic vase with a removable hook versus the
metal vase with permanent hook that was installed on a niche in the New Garden
Crypt Mausoleum. The Board instructed the Administration to acquire a supplier
of the type and style of vase that was approved by the Board so that these
vases can be made available to the public as soon as possible.
The
Administration provided the Board with an updated pricing survey which included
the pricing structure of Rural Hill
Cemetery, owned and operated by the City of Northville. It was noted that opening and closing costs
do not include the set and seal of the vault, nor does it include the graveside
set-up. The costs for these services are paid separately to the funeral
director by the family.
NEW BUSINESS - The Plymouth City Commission has directed the Cemetery Board of
Trustees to look into the matter of non-residents side-stepping the
non-resident rate by having friends or family who are city residents purchase
the graves and transfer the deed to the non-resident at a later date. Trustee Grzywacz noted that during her tenure
at the Department of Municipal Services office, this type of transaction did occur, but very infrequently.
Administration noted that the service fee to transfer a crypt, niche, or grave
from one party to another is currently $50.00, and one option is to increase
this fee to discourage this practice. The Board acknowledged the request of the
City Commission and will pursue the matter further in an effort to resolve this
problem.
Chairwoman
Olson inquired as to the Memorial Brick program proposed for Block K at
Riverside. She was informed by the
Administration that with the installation of the new brick pavers surrounding
the flagpole in Block K, families could
purchase a granite memorial brick, 8” x 8” square, at a total cost of
$200.00 which would cover the cost of the brick as well as the cost to install
the brick in the walkway. This program
could generate revenue as well as enhance the brick walkway in Block K. Both
Trustees Grzywacz and Robertson approved of the idea and felt that it would
mirror the concept currently used in the walkways of Kellogg Park.
It
was moved by Trustee Dougherty and seconded by Trustee Grzywacz to approve the
Memorial Brick program as presented by the Administration to begin offering
these memorial bricks to the public at a cost of $200.00 each.
MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY
CORRESPONDENCE – Chairwoman Olson commended
the Administration on continuing to bring interesting articles relating to
cemetery operations before the Board. She inquired as to the outcome of Proposal
105 in Arizona where the Tax Assessor proposed to tax private for-profit
cemeteries. She was advised by the Administration that the outcome was unknown
at this time, but further information would be provided on this matter at the
February 26, 2001 meeting.
OTHER BUSINESS – Mr. Rod Hage addressed the
Board and thanked them for their support and kind words during his tenure with
the Department of Municipal Services as the cemetery crew leader at Riverside
Cemetery. The Board acknowledged that his caring and helpful actions will be
missed immensely by both the Board as well as the visitors to Riverside
Cemetery.
It
was moved by Trustee Grzywacz and seconded by Trustee Dougherty to adjourn the
meeting at 8:02 pm.
MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY
NEXT SCHEDULED MEETING: Monday,
February 26, 2001 – 7:00pm CityHall
