HomeMy WebLinkAbout1995-10-24 Board of Cemetery Trustees MinutesTown of Reading
Board of Cemetery Trustees
Tuesday, October 24, 1995
Pursuant to a meeting legally posted the meeting ofOctober 24, 1995 convened at 7:30 P.M. in
the Berger Room, Reading Town Hall Annex, Reading, MA.
Present: John M. Silvaggi, Chairman
Joyce Miller, Vice Chairman
Mary Vincent, Secretary
Daniel F. Driscoll
Randolph Harrison
Robert Keating, Superintendent of Cemeteries was also in attendance.
Secretary Minutes
On a motion by Randolph Harrison, seconded by Daniel Driscoll, it was unanimously voted to
accept the Secretary's minutes of the September 26, 1995 Meeting.
Old Business
Wood End Funding Presentation to Town Meeting:
Joyce Miller distributed a brief history of Wood End development. Peter Hechenbleikner will
summarize for the actual aritcle that will appear in the Town Warrant. Camille Anthony,
Selectman and Liaison to the Board, will be asked to make a motion allowing Mary Vincent to
present the article at Town Meeting on November 13, 1995. Elizabeth Kleipeis, Town treasurer,
will explain funding of the article. Robert Keating will be available to answer questions on how
development is progressing. Possible concerns Town Meeting members may have were discussed
by the Board.
Receipts
Robert Keating reported receipts are about the same as last year. Cremations are increasisng
which means less money in fees is being generated.
New Business
Robert Keating reported that budgets are coming up. He forsees a 2% increase in supplies. The
Board again discussed the $3400. budget item for flowers for Veteran's graves. The Board feels
our budget is for maintenance and preservation of graves not for decoration of graves. We will
address this problem at a later meeting.
Charles Lawn
The installation of a tree lawn at the front of Charles Lawn is being discussed with Bud Dickey,
Tree Warden.
Cemetery Maintenance
Leaf clean-up has begun, 300 lbs. of grass seed was used (mostly at Forest Glen) and 2000 yds of
screened fill has been spread at Wood End.
Inquiry on Free Lots
Ruth Converse called Joyce Miller to inquire if the Board would consider giving a descendant of
the Batchelder family a free lot. ( The Wood End land was originally the Batchelder family
homestead. It was sold to the Town). On a motion by Randolph Harrison, seconded by Mary
Vincent, the Board unanimously voted to keep to it's policy of no free lots.
Naming Roadways in Cemeteries
The Board discussed the tradition of naming streets inside the various cemeteries:
Laurel Hill - no signage in the cemetery on 1846 map - all streets named for trees.
Forest Glen - 2 streets named - Amon Way (former Trustee) and Henry Vik's Urn Garden (former
Cemetery Director).
Charles Lawn - no streets named.
Cemetery Liability
Joyce Miller brought to the Board's attention a report on a 1985 accident in Laurel where a 3 year
old child was injured by a falling marker. The Town's Insurance Co. paid $18,000. to the family.
The Board at the time questioned how the marker tipped and if the child had been climbing on
same. At that time the Insurance Company advised the Town that all markers should be checked
periodically. Robert Keating stated that each summer about 50 markers are braced and re-set.
He does keep a record of this in his daily work logs. Daniel Driscoll suggested that perhaps signs
should be placed at entrances stating markers should not be climbed on. The Board discussed the
problem but no action was taken at this time.
Next Meeting
The next scheduled meeting will be Tuesday, November 21, 1995 at 7:30 P.M.
The Meeting adjourned at 9:15 P.M.
Respectfully submitted,
Y1 l
Mary R. Vincent, Secretary