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Ladd Board discusses possible village takeover of Ladd Cemetery, reviews finances and operations
Summary
The Ladd Village Board discussed a potential village takeover of Ladd Cemetery, covering burials per year, maintenance costs, plot inventory and recent perpetual-fund investments; staff will seek information on transferability of funds and schedule a cemetery-management software demo.
The Ladd Village Board on Jan. 13 discussed whether the Village should assume ownership and management of Ladd Cemetery, examining workload, plot availability and the cemetery's finances.
President Frank Cattani questioned Mr. Paul Biccochi about operational time commitments; Biccochi said the cemetery averages "approximately 10—6 burials per year, with an estimated two hours of administrative work per burial." The board heard that the cemetery contains "approximately 3,800 total graves," including about 1,600 plots with burials, 1,171 plots sold but without burials, and roughly 1,100 plots available for future sale. Biccochi said he would remain in charge of operations if the Village assumes management and that plot prices would increase.
Trustees pressed on costs and recent investments. Biccochi reported grass-cutting costs of about $5,000 annually and roughly $800 per year for landscaping, marker straightening and related services. He also said the cemetery recently placed $100,000 in a five-year perpetual fund at 5.8% and $80,000 in a five-year account at 5.3% and that he would consult with Lou Wasilewski about whether those investments could transfer to Village control.
Administrative Assistant Samantha Sarosinski will enter cemetery records into a program or spreadsheet, and Clerk Rhonda Bezely will contact Caselle Connect to schedule a demonstration of its cemetery management module. Attorney Pat Barry outlined the legal steps the Village would need to take should it pursue a takeover; no formal action was taken at the Jan. 13 meeting.
The Board requested additional follow-up and asked Biccochi to report back at the Jan. 27 meeting with information about the funds and any legal or administrative hurdles to municipal assumption of responsibility.
