HomeMy WebLinkAbout2026-05-07-CSCII-minAd Hoc Crematory Study Committee 11
Minutes, Thursday, May 7, 2026
Hybrid —Select Board Meeting Room and Remote via Zoom
5:00-6:15 PM
The meeting was called to order by Joe Pato at 5:02 PM. The Chair confirmed the meeting was held in a
hybrid format and verified remote audio with Judy Zola and Rabbi Lerner.
Roll call was conducted, and quorum was confirmed.
Committee Members Present
• Joe Pato (SB Liaison and non-voting Chair pro -tem), Archan Basu, Mike Harris, Rabbi David
Lerner (remote, arrived 5:04 PM), Jyoti Puri, Jillian Tung, Judy Zola (remote)
• Absent: Joseph Su
Liaisons / Guests
• Anil Ahuja – Appropriations Committee (remote), Lisah Rhodes – Capital Expenditures
Committee (remote), David Pinsonneault – DPW Director (remote)
1. APPROVAL OF PRIOR MINUTES
March 25 meeting minutes: A motion was made and seconded to approve the minutes as submitted.
Vote: 4 in favor, 1 abstention. The minutes were approved and to be archived.
2. AGENDA ITEM: COMMUNITY LISTENING SESSION & EMAIL MATERIALS
The Chair reviewed additional materials from the community listening session and follow-up resident
emails. The Chair distributed (1) an AI -generated draft summary of emails received through April 30, with
prompts included for transparency, and (2) an addendum covering emails received May 1-7. Email
addresses and street addresses were redacted because the documents are public records. These
complemented to the summary and transcript of the listening session.
2.1 Discussion highlights
• Not a needs assessment: Dr. Jillian Tung and others emphasized that the listening
session/emails are meaningful input but not a statistically representative needs assessment; the
report should clearly state sample bias/limitations.
• Role of the committee/report: The Chair clarified the committee will vote to submit a final
report to the Select Board, including recommendations responsive to the committee's charge; if
not unanimous, majority and minority views may be included.
• Community needs identified: Members discussed that regional cremation capacity exists, but
residents expressed unmet needs related to proximity, weekend availability, rapid timing after
death, and the ability to conduct specific rites—especially the open -flame Havan ceremony.
• Town role and church–state considerations: Dr. Tung raised concerns about the legal ambiguity
of municipal funding/subsidy for religious observance; others noted the importance of
fairness/equality across traditions and the difficulty of disentangling public-health cemetery
mandates from religious practice in public perception.
• State law/legislation context: Dr. Tung and the Chair referenced pending Massachusetts
legislation (Bill 2360 cited) that could allow privately run crematories not attached to
cemeteries, potentially enabling private -sector solutions.
• Financial considerations: Mike Harris summarized 2019 report cost drivers and argued a
municipal crematory would be costly and unlikely to be supported by likely demand; Archan
Basu urged careful framing so financial discussion informs but does not predetermine policy
choices, noting municipalities fund many services not intended to be profitable.
2.2. Agenda Item: Westview Cemetery Operations, Capacity, and Columbarium
David Pinsonneault (DPW Director) provided updates and answered questions regarding Westview
Cemetery capacity and the planned columbarium.
• Columbarium status and purpose: Funding has been approved but the columbarium has not yet
been constructed; DPW is evaluating design and location. The purpose is to provide an
alternative to in -ground burial and use land more efficiently by storing cremated remains above
ground. The columbarium does not determine where cremations occur.
• Current inventory vs. expansion capacity: DPW confirmed that while current inventory is
limited, Westview has room for expansion. Preliminary planning suggests approximately 40-50
years of additional space depending on design and constraints; additional expansion may be
limited by conservation considerations.
• Old building site: DPW described the former building location as near the flagpole (left/inward),
now opened up and being surveyed for a grid/plot layout.
• Budget/fees and subsidy: DPW stated Westview is not designed to make money and is
subsidized by the operating budget. The perpetual care fund is a trust for future
care/operations. DPW will provide the committee with a budget/fee breakdown.
3. REPORT DRAFTING STATUS AND ACTION ITEMS
Judy Zola stated she did not yet have a consolidated draft report and requested missing inputs from
members. The Chair encouraged topic -area leads to provide written candidate recommendations for their
areas to support drafting and committee review.
• All members: Provide topic -area write-ups and suggested highlights for inclusion in the draft
report by May 14.
• Mike Harris: Re-send/forward financial materials to Judy Zola (and any prior analysis used by the
committee).
• Jyoti: Provide materials regarding the "water process"/water cremation recommendation.
• David Pinsonneault (DPW): Provide a breakdown of Westview budget, fees/revenues, subsidy,
and perpetual care fund.
• Judy Zola: Prepare and circulate a draft report by June 3 (one week before the next meeting) to
allow committee review.
NEXT MEETING
The next meeting was scheduled for June 10 at 5:00 PM.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting adjourned at 6:19 PM.
Minutes submitted by Joseph Pato, chair pro -tem from Zoom session transcript.
Approved 6/10/2026