HomeMy WebLinkAbout2019-03-12-CSC-minAd Hoc Crematory Study Committee
Tuesday, March 12, 2019
Public Samuel Hadley Public Services Building
DPW Training Room, 201 Bedford St, Lexington
Committee members and liaisons present:
Narain Bhatia, George Burnell, Judith Crocker, Msgr. Paul Garrity, Bridger McGaw,
David Pinsonneault
Judy Crocker called the meeting to order at 7:08pm.
Working Meeting to Draft the Interim Report
The assembled members and liaisons worked to construct a working outline for the
interim report to be presented to the Board of Selectmen and Town Meeting.
Documents used included the public hearing power point, the Committee's charge, a
draft outline by Ms. Crocker, and a draft guidance document submitted by Mr. Flynn.
Points to be incorporated in the interim report include:
• The Committee's Conclusion, including why this is an interim report
• The Cremation Process - including explanation of a viewing area, processes
that we control and those we do not
• Background - what we know versus what we agree on
• Pertinent Research
• Assumptions/Uncertainties
• Equity and Financial Implications
• Next steps - future committee work
The Committee discussion include the following:
• Cases is the proper term for bodies
• High volume is less stressful for the retorts versus low volume
• There needs to be a 10 hour service window to accept cases
• Buy the retort after have funeral director buy -in.
• Previous operational feasibility information provided by Mr. Padaki
• Begin with one panel freezer (3-5 cases). HVAC can more easily maintain
these units.
• 40% of U.S. funeral homes have a retort
• Assumptions:
o Is there a market?
o Town Manager must communicate with other towns.
o Market rate - needs to breakeven over time
o Lexington fronts capital for low rate but a third party could
potentially manage moving the service forward
The Committee would like clarification from Ms. Kosnoff on the Perpetual Care
Trust. She may need to explain this at Town Meeting.
At 8:48pm, a motion to adjoin was made by Msgr. Paul Garrity and seconded by Mr.
Burnell.
Respectfully submitted,
Judy Crocker