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Ad Hoc Crematory Study Committee Monday, February 21, 2019 Robbins Room, Cary Memorial Building 1605 Massachusetts Avenue, Lexington Committee members and liaisons present: Narain Bhatia, George Burnell, Judith Crocker, Jay Flynn, Sara Iverson, Carolyn Kosnoff, Doug Lucente, Bridger McGaw Doug Lucente called the meeting to order at 7:06pm. Approval of Minutes The February 6 minutes were approved and the February 7 minutes were approved as amended to attach the public hearing power point. Each were moved by Mr. Burnell and seconded by Ms. Crocker. Review of Comments from the Public Hearin Mr. Lucente shared a resident letter from a town meeting member unable to attend the public hearing as well as two emails from two local rabbis. The former discussed crematoriums as a regional resource business and the latter, cremation and their local congregations. Each of the public hearing speakers' comments was discussed. Topics included residential subsidized services, impact on town's operational budget, transparency with the financial model, determining a breakeven point, and potential demand from neighboring towns. Of the nineteen residents who attended and sixteen who signed in that evening, seven spoke. Ms. Kosnoff departed at 7:30pm. Further discussion included: • Funeral Directors - these individuals are usually second or third generation. Trust and confidence constitute key foundations of their business relationships. Their business hinges on their services. • High maintenance costs of crematoriums • Funeral directors decide where they cremate, except when witnessing the start of cremation is required and where desire of deceased persons to have last rites in his/her town from legacy point of view is known. The funeral director's crematory selection considers costs, convenience and established relationships with crematories; distance and fraud issues seem less relevant. • Indian Circle for Caring - volunteers who work with funeral directors, crematory, and priest for final rites • Invite Victor Buonfiglio, executive director of the Boston Cremation