HomeMy WebLinkAbout2019-08-20-CSC-min'09 Minutes of the
Lexington Ad Hoc Crematory Study Meeting
August 20, 2019
(as clarified and approved at September 17, 2019 meeting)
Location and Time: 201 Bedford Street; 2nd Floor Training Room; 5:00 P.M.
Members Present: Suzie Barry (Chair Non-voting, and Select Board liaison), Narain
Bhatia, George Burnell (EDAC), Judith Crocker, John Flynn (Board of Health), Msgr. Paul
Garrity (LICA), Bridger McGaw
Members and Others Absent: Sara Iverson, Sandy Beebee (Capital Expenditures liaison)
Others Present: David Pinsonneault (DPW liaison), Carolyn Kosnoff, Nick Nichols
(Appropriations liason), Sanjay Padaki (Appropriation liaison — Telecon 6:05pm)
Documents Presented:
Most documents, including the financial analyses, discussed Ad Hoc Crematory Study committee
meetings can be found on this shared google drive:
haps://drive.poople.corn/drive/folders/1GpbEsOCpzhUb YXXoxKaa6ifOtYdUSFW?usp=sharing
The Ad Hoc Crematory Sturdy Interim Report to 2019 ATM can be found here:
https:11www.lexingtonma.gov/sites1lexingtonmal Yes/u�loads/article2ad hoc crematory interim re
port Ord 2019 v3 bos ok 4.3.19. pdf
Ms. Barry called the meeting to order at 5:06 pm. The committee unanimously approved minutes
from the July 17th, 2019 meeting. (Motion by Msgr. Paul Garrity, second by Judith Crocker)
Msgr. Garrity reported on the Lexington Interfaith Clergy Association (LICA) meeting held June 18,
2019. Msgr. Garrity noted the Association did not have an explicit recommendation "for' or "against'
the construction of a Crematory at Westview Cemetery.
After careful deliberation the LICA issued the following statement:
"We call upon the ad hoc crematory study committee and town meeting to fully consider the spiritual
needs of the Hindu, Buddhist, Jain, Sikhs, and any other communities who practice cremation
(specifically the need to witness cremation) as they seek to discern how to move forward."
Mr. McGaw reported on an informal discussion with Town Council with respect to possibility for
outsourcing the crematory operation. Town council stated "no" to outsource construction.
Outsourcing Operation was doable, but not recommended. Significant issues with ownership an
enterprise control.
The committee continued further reviewed Mr. McGaw financial analysis. Mr. McGaw prepared a
spreadsheet to examine operating costs over a ten year period. Payback times examined based on
a variable number of cremations and cost per cremation. The analysis concluded that any
reasonably competitive cost per cremation would require an unattainable number of cremations per
year.
Ms. Barry gave a further status update on the survey the Town Manager sent to 107 nearby
communities. Ms. Barry informed the committee on the follow up with survey responses from
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Lexington Ad Hoc Crematory Study Meeting
May 29, 2019
abutting town. Answers varied significantly. However the following generalizations emerge: (a) no
abutting towns have intent to build crematory, (b) abutting towns are not interested in any type of
cooperative venture.
The committee reviewed the list of next steps listed on the last page of the The Ad Hoc Crematory
Sturdy Interim Report to 2019 ATM. The committee agreed that all information gathered to date was
complete and sufficient to satisfy the objectives listed in the interim report. Ms. Barry, polled all
members present and all agreed that information gathered to date was sufficient to so that the
committee could vote a final recommendation.
The following motion was made by Mr. Burnell and seconded by Msgr. Garrity:
"The recommendation of the Ad Hoc crematory study committee to the Select Board is the Town of
Lexington not pursue building a crematory at this time." **
The Motion was carried 5 -for (Burnell, Crocker, Flynn, Garrity, McGaw) and 1 -against (Bhatia)
The committee discussed the preparation of a final report with the objective to present to the 2019
Fall STM. Goal is a first draft by October 1 st and presentation to Select Board on Nov. 4th.
The next meetings are scheduled for September 17th, 2019 at 5pm and October 1 st, 2019 at 5pm
The committee adjourned at 6:45 pm.
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