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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2019-02-21-CSC-minAd 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 • Visit the Mt Auburn crematory • Policy problem in that Town earns money for services rendered. Operationally, the process is stuck because the Town does not receive any money due to the Perpetual Care Trust. • How can Lexington use the Perpetual Care Trust? Mr. Lucente reviewed the Selectmen's thought process in creating this ad hoc committee, one that reaches beyond any financial implications. He reflected on the how all Lexington residents need to have the option to have a peaceful death in Lexington. This consideration involves more than convenience. It centers on the desire for all residents to have a final resting place locally. Some residents wish to have the option to die in Lexington. Mr. McGaw arrived at 8:30pm. Further discussion points included: • There appears to be a misunderstanding that Lexington would run the potential crematorium as a business. • Market conditions include that the bulk of crematory work in conjunction with a funeral home and hospital-based crematorium needs are handled at Boston sites • The price to be cremated would not be cheaper in Lexington Discussion of 2019 Annual Town Meeting Articles 1. Article 6 Crematorium Facility at Westview Cemetery - A citizen's article 2. Article 20G Westview Cemetery Facility Construction - sponsored by the Town Upcoming meetings pertinent to this committee's discussion include: • February 22 - Board of Selectmen who need to know the preliminary standing of the Committee on the Westview Cemetery • February 28 - Permanent Building Committee where the Westview plans will be reviewed. There is limited funds available from 2017 Annual Town Meeting's $270,000 appropriation. These funds cannot be used to design a crematory. To do so, there would be the need to return to Town Meeting for additional design funding. The Committee discussion included: • The geography of the Westview property is a concern • The Town should not compromise the maintenance building • There were reservations about the current plans and future FTE requirements. These included constructing a design -ready building as more efficient. It might only need a retort and hearse bay in its addition. A summary of the discussion held at this evening's meeting was reviewed. From the group discussion, it was agreed upon that the following preliminary recommendations be presented to the Board of Selectmen at their upcoming meeting: • Number of people for a viewing area: suitable for up to 25 people by a vote of 6-1. The negative vote indicated that the individual was not ready to vote. • Number of retorts: Up to 2 by a vote of 7-0. • Make Westview Addition Ready: 7-0. Preparation of Interview Questions for Subject Matter Experts This item was tabled. Schedule Next Meeting Date The next meeting will be March 6 at 7:00pm at DPW. AT 10:15pm, a motion to adjoin was made by Mr. McGaw and seconded by Mr. Jay. Respectfully submitted, Judy Crocker