HomeMy WebLinkAbout2019-05-29-CSC-min�y w -AOR yrry .
Minutes of the
Lexington Ad Hoc Crematory Study Meeting
n May 29th, 2019
APRIL&",
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Location and Time: 201 Bedford Street; 2nd Floor Training Room; 5:00 P.M.
Members Present: Judith Crocker, John Flynn (Board of Health), Sara Iverson, Bridger
McGaw (arrived 5:10pm), George Burnell (EDAC), Msgr. Paul Garrity (LICA), Narain Bhatia
Members and Others Absent: Sanjay Padaki (Appropriation liaison), David Pinsonneault
(DPW liaison)
Others Present: Sandy Beebee (Capital Expenditures liaison), Suzie Barry (Chair, and
Board of Selectmen liaison), Carolyn Kosnoff
Documents Presented:
Most documents, including the financial analyses, discussed Ad Hoc Crematory Study committee
meetings can be found on this shared google drive:
https;A drive.google.com/drive/folders/1GgbEsOCpzhUbYXXoxKaa6jfOtYdU5FW?usp=sharing
The Ad Hoc Crematory Sturdy Interim Report to 2019 ATM can be found here:
htt s://www.lexingtonina.gov/sites/lexingtonina/files/uploads/article2ad hoc cremato1y interim re
port april 2019 v3 hos ok 4.3.19. pdf
The Alan Fields letter is attached.
Ms. Barry called the meeting to order at 5:01 pm. The committee unanimously approved minutes
from the March 21, 2019, April 1, 2019, and May 8, 2019 meetings. She informed the Committee
that the Board of Selectmen (BoS) had approved green burials at Westview Cemetery.
Ms. Barry presented a letter from Alan Fields, Chairman of the Trustees of Public Trusts. The letter
discussed how the income generated by the cemetery trusts could be used for perpetual care of the
facility. The committee questioned the rationale behind burial fees being split in a 45/55 proportion
between the trusts. There was a discussion on whether the language in the trust documents left
open the possibility of using trust income for building or maintaining a crematory or columbarium.
One member requested Mr. Field's presence at an Ad Hoc Crematory Study Meeting to answer
questions directly. Another member reminded the group that the income from the trust already does
not cover the cemetery's operating expenses.
Ms. Kosnoff stated that the Lexington Rules and Regulations pertaining to Westview Cemetery
interprets perpetual care as landscaping, and not construction. Ms. Barry informed that the
language in that document has been updated recently to incorporate green burials. She agreed to
ask town counsel if the definition of perpetual care was under the BoS purview.
Ms. Barry gave a status update on the survey the committee wanted sent to surrounding towns.
The questions will ask the municipalities whether they have a crematory or plan to build one, and if
they have considered it, what was the rationale for their final decision. The Lexington town staff is in
the process of finalizing the wording of the survey questions but needed information on how many
towns to contact. Ms. Barry thought a 50 -mile radius would give the committee perspective from a
broad range of communities.
Ms. Crocker had contacted Lexington's three state representatives and communicated the
responses of the two representatives who had replied. They said there is no change in regulations
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Lexington Ad Hoc Crematory Study Meeting
May 29, 2019
regarding crematories being located at cemeteries being contemplated at this time. A change could
be possible in the future but there would be logistical hurdles to overcome, and could take 4-6
years. However, a home rule bill, voted by Town Meeting, could bring about faster, regulatory
changes.
Mr. McGaw presented his financial analysis of a possible crematory at Westview Cemetery. He
calculated the total capital cost, including equipment, at between $900,000 and $1.05m. Some
members thought Mr. McGaw's construction cost estimate of $150/sq ft. was too low, and may not
reflect the public bidding process. Mr. McGaw responded that the building was just two walls and
would be using the existing HVAC of Westview Cemetery. Mr. McGaw had included the cost of a
columbarium, but Ms. Barry cautioned this part of the analysis was outside the scope of the
committee's charge.
Mr. McGaw's analysis concluded over $250k per year would be necessary to operate the crematory
assuming only one full time employee. There was some debate if the crematory would need two full
time employees or could operate with one full time and one part time employee. Ms. Kosnoff
volunteered to provide Mr. McGaw with Lexington's contracted rate for gas. The volume of bodies
needed to cover the operating costs was calculated to be anywhere for 542 people at a $475/
cremation price and 1,144 at a $225/ cremation price. There was concern that the surrounding
population would not provide a sufficient volume of business for the crematory to cover its operating
costs. Mr. Burnell stated that a crematory would need a sizeable viewing hall in order to charge a
premium price. He also expressed a concern that with inadequate volume, the retorts would require
frequent repairs. He volunteered to work with Mr.McGaw in refining the financial analysis.
Ms. Kosnoff informed work on the Town's draft operating budget starts in July and on the Town's
draft capital budget starts in August.
Mr. Bhatia asked if it made sense to combine funding for the crematorium with the Westview
Cemetery project. Ms. Barry cautioned that the Ad Hoc Committee's report needed to be completed
first.
Mr. Flynn made a motion to adjourn. Ms. Crocker seconded, and the vote was unanimous. The
committee adjourned at 6:32.
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Lexington Ad Hoc Crematory Study Meeting
May 29, 2019
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