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HomeMy WebLinkAboutJanuary 12, 2022 rl NANTUCKET CEMETERY COMMISSION Posted Meeting of January 12,2022,at 3:00 pm 2022 FEB F� $: Virtual Meeting via Zoom Video Conference FINAL AND APPROVED MINUTES• Attendance: Commissioners: Frances Karttunen, Scott McIver,Allen Reinhard(Chair), Lee Saperstein, and Barbara White; 1. Call to Order. • Chair Allen Reinhard called the meeting to order at 3:15 pm after a brief delay to establish the Zoom link. He reminded participants that the session was being recorded. A roll-call of attendees showed that a quorum existed. 2. Public and Commissioner Comments. There was no public comment. 3. Approval of Minutes from December 8,2021. Scott McIver moved, Barbara White seconded, and the Commission unanimously approved the minutes from the meeting of December 8,2021. The vote was by roll call. 4. Approval of Lot Sales Since Last Meeting. Allen Reinhard said that there were two lot sales to approve in Polpis Cemetery: Charlotte Kastner, lot G-10, and Maureen O'Sullivan, lot I-28. In each case, application had started some time ago but was not completed; after appropriate follow up, checks were received to complete the applications and they are now ready for approval. Lee Saperstein moved approval of these two lot sales, Scott McIver seconded,and the Commission voted unanimously by roll call to approve the sales. Allen Reinhard reported the impending interment on Saturday, January 15, 2022, of Amy Brock in lot HH-22 in the family plot in New North Cemetery. He and Lee Saperstein will visit the site on Thursday, January 13th,to watch the combined efforts of the DPW and Jeff Morash of Prospect Hill Cemetery to open the grave. He also reported on his message to the Tarlov family about placing a memorial for Mrs. Tarlov, mother to the correspondent, in the Quaker Cemetery. Although this matter had been discussed at last-month's meeting, an approved resolution had not been reached. While there was a general consensus then that the request for a second stone for Mrs. Tarlov should not be approved, this opinion was not confirmed by a vote of the Commission. The existing stone for Isidore Tarlov is flat. The first choice of the family is to match it with a second stone. Frances Karttunen said that she favored an additional inscription to the existing monument or a new, larger monument that is consistent with the regulations and that can contain both names. She is opposed to a second stone. Led by a comment from Scott McIver about setting a rule-breaking precedent,the Commission voted, upon a motion by Lee Saperstein and seconded by Scott McIver,to deny the 1 request for a second stone. Allen Reinhard said that he would write again to the Tarlov family apologizing for the confusion but setting clearly the Commission's ruling. [Action Allen X xnh tiOvr teat the Tarla family] 5. Polpis Cemetery Latest Developments. Once again, Ken Beaugrand reported that there has been no further formal action on the land swap at Polpis Cemetery because of holiday absences of personnel. 6. Lot Sale Procedures and Forms Update. Allen Reinhard reported that he had met with Phyllis Ruguaru to clarify the role of the Commission in approving lot sales.. There will be a place on the application form for a record of approvals and the application processes outline has been amended to reflect the Commission's approval. A move to approve any application will be put on the Commission's agenda once payment has been made. 7. Layout of New Lots at Polpis. Allen Reinhard admitted that he had put this topic on the agenda in anticipation of the completion of the land swap. Nonetheless, he has had the opportunity to speak with Stephen Arceneaux, Director,DPW, and Cemetery Administrator,who will prepare a work order for boundary surveys, ground clearance, and lot layouts as soon as the conveyance is done. Allen Reinhard also asked Phyllis Ruguaru to research the past purchase of toe and corner markers so that a new order can be placed as soon as the ground is clear. 8.Monument Restoration Project Report. As reported last month, now that the survey of monument conditions in five cemeteries (Historic Coloured,New North,Newtown, Old North, and Quaker Cemeteries) is complete,which Allen Reinhard noted was done very thoroughly,the Town can expect an estimate of\the cost to repair/restore damaged memorial stones. The Commission will, added Allen Reinhard, review the report and make a recommendation on the proposed work for restoration. He had hoped to have the report in time for this meeting; expecting it at any moment, he will forward a copy to commissioners as soon as he receives it. He commented also on the report given by a town official about supposed vandalism damage to monuments in the Historic Coloured Cemetery. Upon inspection by him, he believes that the perceived damage was due to frost heave and ground settlement, not vandalism, and, he hopes, will be mainly repaired once the monument restoration project gets underway. As a post- meeting note,Josh Balling of the Inquirer and Mirror has written a nice article about the condition of the monuments in the Historic Coloured Cemetery. 9. Black Cemetery Network. Allen Reinhard said that Frances Karttunen and Lee Saperstein had each read the New Yorker article (issue of October 4, 2021) about Black cemeteries and mentioned it to others. Lee Saperstein had sent the entire article to fellow commissioners and has also applied to the Black Cemetery Network for a listing of Nantudket's Historic Coloured Cemetery. He is awaiting a response from the network. 10. Old,New, Other Business and Cemetery Issues Update. Allen Reinhard reported that the DPW has begun installing new fencing around Town cemeteries. In his meeting with Stephen Arceneaux, DPW Director, he asked that the existing work orders for maintenance be reviewed and fulfilled. He suggested that the corner fences,at the Quaise Asylum Burial Ground be renewed before we schedule a dedication of the new monument there. Stephen Arceneaux said that he would look into how best to get equipment back to that cemetery so as to do the work. They also discussed the inurnment of the eight unclaimed cremains at Polpis, which, if done at the same time,will allow a modest ceremony to be held at their burial. Frances Karttunen'concurred with Allen Reinhard about the condition of the monuments at the Historic Coloured Cemetery and reported that, when she visited recently,there was no evidence of vandalism. She reported also that the new path from the hospital parking area to the Historic Coloured Cemetery is already in need of maintenance. Allen Reinhard said that he would contact the hospital maintenance people about this task. [Act rots.'Alto Reinhard to ask Hospital laintenance dtrectcir to.fiXaiii 10.Adjournment came by consensus at 3:59 pm. Next regular meeting: Wednesday,February 9,2022, at 3:00 pm by Zoom Video Conferencing. If regular face-to-face meetings resume,a notice will be sent with the agenda for the February meeting. The Zoom link remains the same. • Respectfully submitted: i ; Date: Lee W. Saperstein, Secretary Nantucket Cemetery Projects List. Cemetery monument condition survey. Consolidation of lots at Newtown Cemetery with recordable ground survey. Split rail fence at Polpis Cemetery. Survey to lay out additional lots at Polpis. Toe and lot corner markers for new Polpis lots when laid out. Dedication of new monument at Quaise Asylum Burial Ground. Fencing at the Historic Coloured Cemetery. Fencing and brush removal at New and Old North Cemeteries. 3