Lakeville Cemetery Commission revises burial rules, sets cremation-size limits and authorizes commissioners to perform paid gravesite work

The Lakeville Cemetery Commission on July 11, 2018 approved revisions to its rules for town-owned cemeteries to add specifications for cremation burials and flat cremation markers, authorized commissioners to construct foundations and cremation graves and receive vendor-style compensation, and reviewed the commission's fiscal position and several maintenance projects.

The actions came during a regular meeting in the Local History Room of the Lakeville Public Library where commissioners reviewed the annual financial report, discussed fence and tree-removal work at multiple cemeteries, and agreed to seek outside estimates for headwall repairs at Ward Hill.

The commission reviewed a financial report showing $7,548.64 available in its accounts. Members said they believed the town had authorized $13,000 for the commission in the new fiscal year but noted that the attested copy of the certified budget the commission had on hand did not show a separate cemetery line item. Commissioners asked staff to follow up with the town accountant to confirm the authorized appropriation.

On rules and regulations, commissioners moved to revise the governing document to add standards for cremation graves and markers. The body settled on dimensions for cremation in-ground graves of 12 inches wide by 18 inches long with a depth of 16 inches; flat cremation markers were limited to a maximum of 12 by 16 inches. The commission agreed that monuments will require foundations, while the new flat cremation markers will not be required to sit on foundations. For ground-level markers and footstones, the commission set a minimum thickness of 4 inches and directed that markers be placed flush with the ground.

Commissioners also discussed monument and marker size limits for full-size graves. Members stated a policy principle allowing one monument per lot containing two or more graves, with maximum monument dimensions discussed at three feet high by three feet wide; the meeting record shows the commission intended to include those limits in the revised paragraph but the final ordinance text was to be drafted and entered into the rules document for formal posting.

To address gaps in available contractor service, the commission voted to send a letter to the town accountant and to authorize any cemetery commissioner to construct a foundation or a cremation grave and to receive compensation for that work in the manner a vendor would. The motion was seconded and approved; commissioners said the change was intended to cover situations when contracted vendors are unavailable and commission members must perform burial-related work.

On cemetery maintenance, the commission noted that the Alliance Club will return 10 granite posts for reinstallation as the dividing fence between Precinct and Thompson Hills cemeteries; the commission will supply some two-rail vinyl fence at its expense to be erected by Southeast Fence. Members reviewed a quote from Southeast Fence for $375 to pin two broken granite posts at Macaulay Cemetery caused by fallen trees. Major tree removal at Macaulay Cemetery will be performed by Beaver Tree Works and will require temporarily removing two sections of fence to allow crane access; the commission agreed to hold the larger proposal until the next fiscal year.

Members approved outstanding invoices and directed staff to follow up on encumbrances related to work at Ward Hill, Priest (Priestly) Cemetery and a project involving the Lions Club. Commissioners agreed they had previously encumbered funds for certain projects but said they lacked a second, updated contractor proposal for remaining fence/wall sides; they instructed staff to obtain the missing quotes and to confirm what amounts are encumbered in the town accounting system.

Other administrative items included a request that a schedule of cemetery fees be attached to the rules and regulations (rather than only posted on the town website) because some residents lack internet access, and routine recordkeeping tasks related to burial paperwork (barrel/permit certificates) for individual families.

The commission scheduled its next meeting for 10 a.m. Aug. 14, 2018 and adjourned at 10:47 a.m.

The meeting record included several motions that were seconded and approved; the transcript does not record roll-call vote tallies for those motions.