HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-11-19-CSCII-minn� orrNitic v Ad Hoc Crematory Study Committee II
Minutes, Meeting of Wednesday, November 19, 2025
Select Board Meeting Room, Town Office Building
„M 5:00 PM
APRL
Mr. Pato, the Select Board liaison, serving as chair pro -tem called the meeting of the Ad Hoc Crematory
Study Committee II to order at 5:03pm on Wednesday, November 19, 2025, via a hybrid meeting
platform. All members were present, Joseph Su attending remotely. Liaisons Lisah Rhodes, CEC and
Dave Pinsonneault attended remotely, Alan Levine filled as liaison for the AC in person.
1) Minutes for 10/22 meeting were approved unanimously.
2) Review progress of sub -group activity — Socio -Cultural & Religious Needs
Judy and Archan presented a report on religious and sociocultural needs, focusing on death
and burial practices across different belief systems. They discussed demographics,
cremation rates, and specific practices of various faiths, including Dharmic, Abrahamic, and
non -religious traditions. The board noted that some ashes are being interred at Westview
Cemetery, though this is more of a secular American practice than a faith -based one. The
report highlighted the growing popularity of cremation and personalized ceremonies, as
well as the use of technology for online memorials.
The Committee discussed funeral and burial practices, focusing on the shift from burial to
cremation, particularly among religious and cultural groups in Lexington and Middlesex
County. They noted that Westview Cemetery does not fully meet the needs of all religious
and burial groups, such as traditional Jewish, green, Islamic, and cremation services. Some
members acknowledged that while expanding services might deepen the cemetery's deficit,
the town should consider ways to make Westview more inclusive, given that many residents
have their burial needs met outside Lexington.
3) Discuss alkaline hydrolysis cremation aka aquamation
Alkaline Hydrolysis: Green Burial Process
Jyoti delivered a presentation about alkaline hydrolysis, a process for disposing of human
remains that involves dissolving tissue in a heated solution of water and sodium hydroxide,
leaving bones to be ground and returned to survivors. The process was invented in 1888 and
has been adopted by about 75 machines worldwide, with notable growth in use after 2010.
Alkaline hydrolysis is more environmentally friendly than flame cremation, consuming 10%
of the energy and breaking down drugs and embalming fluids, with the liquid effluent being
safe for municipal sewer systems.
The group explored the environmental benefits of this method compared to traditional
cremation, including the removal of mercury and dental amalgam, as well as the potential
for sterile effluent. The discussion concluded with questions about whether this method
could satisfy community concerns, meet cost and operational requirements, and what the
regulatory regime might look like in Massachusetts.
4) Next Steps
The group discussed the need to gather data on local community requirements for a
cremation facility, acknowledging that while there are existing services in the area, they
want to understand if there has been a significant change in social demand that would
warrant a municipal service. Jillian and Jyoti offered to work together on this, with Jillian
taking the science aspect and Jyoti handling phone calls to gather information from
California. The discussion highlighted that while there are some religious groups using
cremation services, it's not primarily a minority group need, and they need to determine if
there's a sufficient local element to justify a Westview facility.
The Committee discussed the need for cremation services in Lexington, with Rabbi Lerner
articulating that the issue goes beyond numbers to symbolically affirm the town's diverse
population. The group debated whether to pursue building a crematory, with members
noting that market conditions do not currently support such an endeavor.
The Committee agreed to schedule another meeting in January to further discuss the values
driving their decision-making process and to potentially provide recommendations for the
annual town meeting in April.
5) Adjourn
Minutes submitted by Joseph Pato, chair pro -tem.
Approved 1/7/2026
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