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TOWN CLERK AD HOC CREMATORY STUDY COMMITTEE II
LEXINGTON MA
Members: The Ad Hoc Crematory Study Committee will have seven (7)voting
members and (1)non-voting member from the Select Board. Membership
shall include:
• 5 - Community Representatives
• 1 - Lexington Area Interfaith Community member
• 1 - Board of Health member
Liaisons: While not part of the Committee, the following committees are invited to
recommend a non-voting liaison:
• Capital Expenditures Committee
• Appropriation Committee
Staff Support: Director of Public Works will act as a liaison to this committee.
Appointed by: Select Board. Select Board will also appoint the chairperson
Length of Term: Until completion of all recommendations to the Select Board in
accordance with the established deliverables schedule as outlined below.
Meeting Times: As determined by the Committee. A minimum of two meetings for the
purpose of soliciting public comment shall be required.
Background: In November 2024, Special Town Meeting passed the following
resolution:
That the Town is urged to research, study, and present a plan to the Select
Board for the potential construction of a crematory addition to the
existing Westview Cemetery building to address the unmet end-of-life
cremation needs of communities in our town.
In 2018, an Ad Hoc Crematory Study Committee was formed to "examine
public health, public safety,public works, operational, financial, and
quality of life issues associated with locating a crematory at Westview
Cemetery and meeting the needs of deceased Lexington residents and their
families."
The 2018 Committee's final report was delivered to the Select Board in
February 2019, with a recommendation not to pursue a Westview
Crematory at that time.
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Committee Goal: Building on the work of the 2018 Committee, the 2024 Ad Hoc Crematory
Study Committee shall assess the following options and provide the Select
Board with recommendations on:
1) Building a crematory adjacent to or connected to the Westview
Cemetery Building.*
2) Building a crematory on another location on the Westview Cemetery
property.*
3) Not building a crematory at this time.
* Note: if the committee recommends 1) or 2), then, to the extent
possible, such recommendation should include preliminary design
plans, estimated construction costs, a marketing and business plan,
including estimated capital, operational, and maintenance costs.
As a starting point, the Committee shall review the 2019 final report (and
accompanying minority report)to determine what, if anything, has
changed in the intervening years, including financial assumptions, market
information, the legislative landscape, etc.
Committee Role: The Ad Hoc Crematory Study Committee's study will include but not be
limited to the following:
1) Review Final Report of the 2018 Ad Hoc Study Committee
a. Review the Final Report (and accompanying Minority Report)
delivered to the Select Board in February 2019.
b. Determine what, if anything, may need to be updated,
amended, deleted, or added(note: this step dovetails with many
of the items listed below).
2) Review of Applicable Legislation
a. Review of the applicable sections of Massachusetts General
Laws c.114 (Cemeteries and Burials). Review of
Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection
regulations regarding Crematories.
3) Evaluation of needs:
a. Review of availability of crematory services for residents and
project future cremation needs.
b. Study the economics of death rates for the area.
c. Consider public and private competition in the region and other
communities that may be engaged in the crematory planning
process.
4) Funeral Homes:
a. Contact the most common funeral homes Lexington residents
utilize that are in and around Lexington.
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b. Determine whether these funeral homes would be willing to
partner with/ operate a new municipal crematory.
5) Other Crematories:
a. Review of other crematories proposed, established and
managed by municipalities in Massachusetts.
b. Review of common practices and pricing.
c. Review of operational costs and perform modeling to include:
various sales price &numbers of cremations per year.
6) Building Options:
a. Review siting options at Westview Cemetery.
b. Review parking & gathering space needs.
c. Estimate build out cost for/ size (SF) of each siting option.
7) Economic & Operational Feasibility:
a. Review estimated annual operating costs, equipment costs,
labor costs (including possible outsourcing labor costs) and a
program budget.
b. Review estimated Capital replacement costs and timeline.
c. Explore regional grant opportunities that may be applied for.
8) Environment:
a. Review of independent research on the health, environmental,
and safety risks associated with the operation of a crematory.
b. Review options for using alternative energy sources to reduce
the environmental impacts.
Deliverables: Present monthly progress reports to the Select Board April 2025 —December
2025 with a report of recommendations addressed to Select Board on the
feasibility of a Crematory at Westview Cemetery by a date to be determined
in an effort to have information to inform Annual Town Meeting 2026.
Prior to serving as a member of this committee, members are required to:
1. Acknowledge receipt of the Summary of the Conflict of Interest Statute. Further, to
continue to serve on the Committee the member must acknowledge annually receipt of
the Summary of the Conflict of Interest Statute. Said summary will be provided by and
acknowledged to the Town Clerk.
2. Provide evidence to the Town Clerk that the appointee has completed the on-line
training requirement required by the Conflict of Interest statute. Further, to continue to
serve on the Committee, the member must acknowledge every two years completion of
the on-line training requirement.
Ref.: Adopted by the Select Board on January 6, 2025
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