Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Cemetery Policy topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Resident urges retention of grandfather clause as Danville reviews cemetery rules
Summary
At a public comment hearing on draft cemetery regulations, a longtime family member of graves urged the commission to retain a grandfathering provision for benches, statues and family plantings and asked for one-on-one outreach to owners before enforcement.
A Danville resident urged the commission during the public comment period to preserve a grandfather clause in proposed cemetery regulations and to give families time and notice before enforcement.
Tammy Stipes, who said her family has maintained a gravesite with a bench and statue for about 35 years, said removing a grandfather clause would force long-standing items from gravesites that families use for reflection. “When you take away something like that, I don’t know, it’s just more of an emotional thing,” she told commissioners. Stipes asked the city to send written notice to families and allow them a period to bring sites into compliance before removing items.
Stipes referenced past cemetery guidance that permitted a 16‑inch flower bed and suggested the city contact families directly before imposing changes. City staff responded that the public comment process is open, that the city has collected responses via the website and forms, and that “whether we pass it or not, there are gonna be some changes in the cemetery,” but staff said they would be sensitive and that one-on-one conversations may be necessary.
No new rule was adopted at the meeting; the matter remains in the public-review stage and staff said they will continue outreach to affected families and return with recommended language.
