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Minutes of the
Lexington Ad Hoc Crematory Study Meeting
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January 9, 2019
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Location and Time: 201 Bedford Street; 2nd Floor Training Room; 7:00 P.M.
Members Present: Narain Bhatia, Judith Crocker, Sara Iverson, Bridger McGaw (arrived
7:37), George Burnell (EDAC), John Flynn (Board of Health), Msgr. Paul Garrity (LICA)
Others Present: Sanjay Padaki (Appropriation liaison), Sandy Beebee (Capital
Expenditures liaison), Douglas Lucente (Chair, and Board of Selectmen liaison),
David Pinsonneault (DPW liaison), Carolyn Kosnoff (arrived 7:04)
Documents Presented:
All documents discussed during the meeting can be found on this shared google drive:
https;AW ve. google. com/drive/folders/1GgbEsOCpzhUb_ YXXoxKaa6jf0tYdU5FW?usp=sharing
During the meeting, members referenced the brochure from crematory manufacturers, pictures from
the Board of Selectmen tour of the Duxbury crematorium, the Town of Lexington Cemetery
Revenue FY 2014-FY2018, and Cemetery Stats January 2019. Additionally the committee reviewed
S Iverson — Other Crematories, S Iverson- Table of Other Crematories, and Assumptions — Working
List.
Mr. Lucente called the meeting to order at 7pm. There were no minutes available to
approve. The meeting began with a tour of the google drive that Mr. Lucente created
and a review of documents already available in the folder.
Mr. Pinsonneault and Ms. Kosnoff reviewed the revenue performance of Westview
Cemetery. When a grave is sold 45% goes into a special revenue fund, which now
has $650,000. Money from this fund can be transferred into the General Fund and
utilized by the town. 55% goes into a perpetual care fund, which now has $3.1m. The
money in the perpetual care fund cannot be used by Lexington although the interest
can be. Cemetery preparation fees collected at the time of burials are the primary
source of funding for Westview Cemetery operations. In FY17-18, cemetery revenues
available for the Town use of $252k were not sufficient to cover operating expenses
of $347k.
The committee also discussed the available space, and how that changed depending
on whether there were burials or cremations. Mr. Pinsonneault believed there was an
8 -year supply of readily available plots at Westview and there weren't space
constraints at this time.
The financing of the Westview Cemetery project was discussed. The Town can use
the $650,000 in the special revenue fund. There have been two recent price
increases, including a 2.5% increase in July 2018, which should also help pay for the
construction of a new maintenance building.
Lingering questions include:
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Lexington Ad Hoc Crematory Study Meeting
January 9, 2019
1) How much leftover land is there at Westview Cemetery?
2) How many plots are sold but have not yet been used?
3) What is the intended use for the $3.1 m in the Perpetual Care fund?
4) What is the most frequent services purchased at Westview Cemetery?
Ms. Kosnoff will provide the committee a cash flow model of Westview Cemetery
including the impact of the proposed new building project.
Ms. Iverson presented the findings of her research after contacting several
crematories. The Haverill crematory has faced competition because New Hampshire
allows funeral homes to offer crematory services from one retort. Another crematory
in Forest Hills also cited poor sales due to competition. Partnering with funeral
homes is the primary way to gain business but they care only about the lowest price.
Mr. Burnell contributed the results of his conversations with funeral home directors.
The ones he spoke to generally find cremations a threat to their business. The
funeral homes' main role in a cremation is to transport the body to the crematory,
which is less profitable than the traditional burial. Lexington and Concord funeral
homes that he spoke with use Mount Auburn. Cost is a big driver behind funeral
homes' choice of crematory partners, but so is being open at convenient times.
The group discussed Mr. McGaw's Assumptions — Working List. Mr. McGaw wanted
to assume Lexington would only build one retort. Ms. Iverson wanted to add the
assumption that no bordering town would be imminently opening a crematory. Mr.
Flynn wanted to add the assumption that Lexington would be building a viewing area
that would accommodate 50 people in addition to the crematory.
Members discussed what they could do to start publicizing the Public event. Ms.
Crocker committed to emailing the Colonial Times. Mr. Lucente offered to coordinate
with the new Public Information Officer, while Mr. Bhatia felt he could publicize
through LICA. Finally, Mr. Bhatia reviewed with the committee the questions he
planned to ask clergy members.
The meeting adjourned at 9:30.
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