HomeMy WebLinkAbout2019-9-11!=' CLE;;.
NANTUCKET CEMETERY COMMISSION
Posted Meeting of September 11, 2019, at 3.00 pm 2019 NO 22 All 1 1.2F -
Department of Public Works Office, 188 Madaket Road
FINAL AND APPROVED MINUTES
Attendance: Commissioners Frances Karamen, Scott McIver, Allen Reinhard (Chair), Lee
Saperstein, and Barbara White.
Absent: Cemetery Administrator, Rob McNeil.
Guest: Curtis Barnes.
1. Call to Order.
Chair Allen Reinhard called the meeting to order at 3:00 pm. There was a quorum at all times.
2. Public Comment
None
3. Approval of Applications.
So as to deliver paperwork to the office before it closed, the Commission considered two
applications from Mr. Mills before approving the minutes.
• Edward K. Mills applied for inurnment of his wife's cremains in the family plot in New
North Cemetery, Section KK 6; burial is requested for September 29, 2019. Scott McIver
moved approval, Barbara White seconded and the motion was approved unanimously.
• There was an accompanying application for approval of a monument that was moved by
Lee Saperstein, seconded by Barbara White, and approved unanimously.
4. Approval of Minutes from August 14, 2019.
While Chair Allen Reinhard was taking the approved applications to the office, Vice Chair
Barbara White asked for approval of the minutes of the meeting of August 14, 2019. Frances
Karttunen moved, Lee Saperstein seconded, and approval was voted unanimously by the four
commissioners present.
5. Forms and Procedures for Inurnment and Recording of Lot Sales.
Allen Reinhard indicated that, when he scheduled this item, he had hoped that Rob McNeil
would be able to attend but he is off Island this week. Based on recent experience with
applications, we need a guide to the completion of forms, which should also be available on line.
Frances Karttunen added that we need a time line in the guide. [Action: Lee Saperstein offered
to draft a guide; DPW will send him copies of the latest application forms.].
6.Polpis and Newtown Latest Updates and Next Steps.
Allen Reinhard asked Lee Saperstein to recount the information that he had gained from Ken
Beaugrand, Town Real Estate Specialist, about Polpis and Newtown Cemeteries just the day
previous. Lee Saperstein repeated that Ken Beaugrand had spoken personally to an owner of the
property abutting Polpis Cemetery to the east (268 Polpis Road) who had stated that surveyors
and appraisers were not welcome on the property. Ken Beaugrand had said also that he would
speak to the attorney who represents the property owners to ask him to explain why a survey and
appraisal are necessary. Allen Reinhard pondered on how the Commission could move forward
with the land swap because it was clearly beneficial to both parties. Barbara White asked if we
have sent them a certified notice of encroachment of their building onto cemetery land. Yes,
replied Allen Reinhard; we have sent them a series of in e-mails. Barbara White then said that
the Commission should: ask Town Counsel or Ken Beaugrand to send something official. The
Town is both owner of the cemetery and the Zoning Administrator. Allen Reinhard said that he
will get official advice on how the Town handles encroachments. Several people asked about
sanctions that could be applied. Lee Saperstein asked if any of our permissions to conduct a land
swap have a time limit, i.e. could expire. [Action: Allen Reinhard to speak with Ken
Beaugrand and Andrew Vorce about official notification of the encroachment and whether or not
any of our permissions have an expiration date.]
With respect to Newtown Cemetery, Lee Saperstein indicated that the information he has
received is that a member of Town Counsel's firm is still recommending an official taking of
numbers 40, 42, and 44 Sparks Avenue before we declare the entire cemetery to be Town owned:
Ken Beaugrand will call the attorney to discuss this recommendation and to suggest strongly that
it is not necessary in light of earlier advice from Counsel. [Action: Allen Reinhard will check
the status of the Commission's request with Ken Beaugrand.]
7. Regulatory Requirement for Cremains Vaults and other Burial Procedures.
Allen Reinhard reported that the requirement for a "durable outer container or vault" is in the
cemetery regulations. As we have learned from our recent experience in changing the
regulations any changes to them require extensive publicity and a public hearing. Barbara White
was of the opinion that the Commission should review and revise the entire document. Lee
Saperstein said that he would meet with the Health Director to discuss his concern on phosphate
contamination.
8. Access to the Historic Coloured Cemetery.
Allen Reinhard reported that he has spoken with Jason Graziadei about a landscaping plan and
whether the Commissioners could look at that portion showing the entrance to the Historic
Coloured Cemetery. Jason Graziadei re -offered full cooperation to the Commission but allowed
as how there was not a plan as such. Commissioners asked that, when the landscapers develop a
plan, they should be able to look at it. Frances Karttunen repeated that we would like to see a
plan even if that meant developing a new one. Allen Reinhard committed to get something that
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can be shared with us. [Action: Allen Reinhard to get a landscaping plan or arrange for the
landscapers to meet with the Commission.]
9. Commissioners Thoughts and Comments; Old, New and Other business.
Lee Saperstein and Barbara White both reported that they will not be on Island for the October
meeting but that they would be able to join by Skype. They need the Skype details for the screen
in the DPW office. [Action: DPW to arrange for Skype and forward log -in details to Lee
Saperstein and Barbara White.]
10. Adjournment.
Adjournment was at 4:05 pm.
Next regular meeting: Wednesday, October 9, 2019, at 3:00 pm in the conference area of
the DPW Office, 188 Ma aket Road.
Respectfully submitted: ; Date: IVb1� ���
Lee W. Saperstein, Secretary