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HomeMy WebLinkAbout11/09/2000 - Regular Minutes - Cemetery Advisory Committee City of College Station Cemetery Committee Thursday, November 9, 2000 Parks Conference Room 10:00 a.m. Staff Present: Ross Albrecht, Forestry Superintendent; Delmer Charanza, Cemetery Sexton; Ann Marie Hazlett, Committee Secretary.; Kris Startzman. Members Present: Katherine Edwards, Chairman; Sarah Adams; Ed Burns; Joe Wallace; David Chester; Mary Bingamon, Alternate; Gregory Anderson, Alternate. Members Absent: Mary Lind Bryan. 1.Call to order: The meeting was called to order at 10:02 a.m. 2. Hear Visitors: There were no visitors present at the meeting. 3. Discussion, consideration, and possible approval of October minutes: Joe Wallace made a motion to approve the minutes from October 12, 2000. Ed Burns seconded the motion. All were in favor, and the motion passed unanimously. 4. Discussion, consideration, and possible approval of absentee requests: No requests for absences were submitted. 5. Discussion, consideration, and possible action regarding the establishment of a "cremate only" area in Section "L" with funds from the Madley donation, and possible means to memorialize the donation: Sarah gave a report on the Cremate subcommittee that met to discuss the landscaping plan for Section “L” of the cemetery. The subcommittee decided to leave the area from the back entrance of the cemetery alone. She indicated on a map that the subcommittee would like to go past that area and landscape it, and also discussed how the area could be set off from the rest of the cemetery to make it look like it was a special place. Pete Vanecek, the Senior Park Planner, was at the subcommittee meeting and will be working on some sketches of the area. Sarah also suggested that the subcommittee go out to the cemetery and walk around before they bring anything back to the Cemetery Committee, so they can have a better idea of what is being proposed, and present it more formally to the Committee. Page 1 of 4 Cemetery Committee Meeting Thursday, November 9, 2000 Ross reported that the area in Section “L” will be split approximately into thirds containing 1/3 of the area as cremate spaces (600-800), 1/3 of the area as 5 foot 10 inch adult spaces, and 1/3 of the area, which is up underneath the trees, as areas with benches and gardens. Ed asked Ross if there were any plans to improve the back entrance to the cemetery. Ross responded that there were no funds available for that improvement in this years budget. He went on to say that he could ask for funds in the fiscal year 2002 budget process for the back entrance improvement. Sarah also reported that the subcommittee discussed the markers for the cremate spaces and how to have some uniformity in those spaces. Katherine elaborated that all of the markers would be flush to the ground and either be granite or granite with bronze plates. Ross went on to say that the subcommittee is leaning towards a maximum monument size of 16 inches by 28 inches, which would accommodate a brass military marker on a granite base. David brought up the point that the size of the stones would not leave much space around the markers. Ross replied that some people would not choose to have the maximum size marker. He went on the say that from a maintenance standpoint, flush is the only way to go. Ross reported that the subcommittee also talked about only having single cremate remains per space, rather than doubles. Katherine stated that the subcommittee also discussed prices for the cremate spaces and had suggested setting the price at $100 per space. Ross added that there could be eight cremate spaces per one adult space. He went on to say that the prices for the spaces are set by a resolution. David moved that the sale price for the cremate spaces be set at $100 per space. Sarah seconded the motion. All were in favor, and the motion passed unanimously. st The subcommittee set their next meeting dates for November 21 and th November 30 at 10:00 am. They asked that Pete Vanecek attend the meetings and have some landscape sketches devised by that time. 6. Discussion, consideration, and possible action regarding the sale of 5 foot by 10 foot spaces platted in Section "M": Section “M” is the section in which Mr. W.D. Fitch paid to have approximately 30 spaces surveyed and platted—they own 17 spaces of that section. Sarah Adams wanted to clarify “What is the real issue with Section ‘M’?” Katherine explained that the real issue is whether or not the City could sell those spaces that the Fitches platted, but did not actually buy. Ross has looked through Cemetery Committee and City Council minutes from September, October, and November of 1989, and has concluded that there are no definitive answers. Ross clarified that what the Fitches actually paid for is highlighted in the map that he passed out at the Page 2 of 4 Cemetery Committee Meeting Thursday, November 9, 2000 beginning of the meeting. This leaves 23 possible 5 foot by 10 foot spaces that could be used. Ross stated the closest thing that he found about any further restrictions regarding Section “M” was found in the Council minutes from 1989 in Agenda item #6: “Councilman Schneider asked if this new section would accommodate further requests for mausoleums. Mrs. Jones replied that this area would accommodate only the Fitch mausoleum.” Ross raised the questions; Can Section “M” have other mausoleums in it or is it only suppose to have the Fitch mausoleum in it? Katherine Edwards asked what the Council’s action was and found that it stated that the motion carried unanimously. She then asked what the original motion was and Ross answered that it was to make Section “M” an alternate site for mausoleums. Katherine suggested that Sarah ask Laura Normand, the daughter of the late Mr. Fitch, if she would come to the next meeting to discuss the family’s intentions for Section “M”. Joe Wallace asked if the approach that the Committee is taking towards the Fitch family is out of courtesy? Sarah answered that it is, but there is a financial consideration as well. Katherine stated that the family might want to be reimbursed for the platting. The Committee agreed to invite Ms. Normand to the next meeting. No motion was made on this item. 7. Discussion, consideration, and possible action regarding revisions to Ordinance #2178 to add wording on available cremate spaces, cremate space sizes, and cremate section monument restrictions: This item was discussed in item #5. 8. Discussion, consideration, and possible action regarding amending Resolution #4-25-96-C to include the price of cremate spaces: This item was discussed in item #5. 9. Discussion, consideration, and possible action on a report from the Legal Department regarding discussion of potential cemetery sites by the Cemetery Committee: The Committee had requested that this item be on the th agenda during the October 12 meeting. The Committee had asked Ross to research the following: a. Can the Committee discuss property acquisition? b. Can the Committee hold a closed session meeting? Ross stated that the acquisition of land purchase for a new site could not be discussed during an open meeting. According to a letter from Steve Beachy, Director of Parks and Recreation, the Cemetery Committee could not hold a closed session meeting without prior approval from the City Council by a formal resolution. Katherine would like for Ross to ask the Legal Department if there is any way that the Committee could find out what the intention is of the City Council regarding the acquisition of land for a new cemetery site. Page 3 of 4 Cemetery Committee Meeting Thursday, November 9, 2000 This was an informational item only, and no motion was made. 10. Discussion, consideration, and possible action regarding the Open Meetings Act. This item was discussed in item #9. 11. Discussion of next meeting date and agenda: The next meeting will be held on Thursday, December 14, 2000, at the Central Park Conference Room at 10:00 a.m. 12.Adjourn: The meeting adjourned at 11:08 a.m. Page 4 of 4 Cemetery Committee Meeting Thursday, November 9, 2000