Minutes 03-25-03 CEMETERY BOARD MEETING
HELD IN THE SENTOR CENTER CONFERENCE ROOM
BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA
ON TUESDAY, MARCH 25, 2003 AT 7:00 P.M.
Present
David Nyquist, Chairman
John Tined, Vice Chairman
Teresa Frazier
Marilyn Huckle
Tereesa Padgett
Janet Prainito
John Wildner, Deputy Recreation
8, Parks Director
Chris Roberts, Asst. Public Works
Glenda Hall, Parks Manager
I. Call to Order
Chair Nyquist presided and called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
II, Roll
The roll was called and no absences were noted. A quorum was present.
III. Agenda Approval
Ms. Padgett stated that the January 28, 2003 minutes had been tabled and that
she was not able to find them in the agenda packet. Ms. Prainito agreed and
apologized for the oversight. The minutes were in the previous meeting's agenda
packet. The approval of the January 28, 2003 minutes will be put on the next
meeting agenda.
Motion
Ms. Huckle moved to approve the agenda with the notation that the January 28,
2003 minutes will be put on the agenda for approval at the Board's next
meeting. Ms. Prainito seconded the motion that carried unanimously.
IV. Approval of Minutes - February 25, 2003
Ms. Padgett requested that the minutes be changed on page 4, in the next to the
last paragraph, first line, to reflect that she had only requested the verbatim
comments of Mr. Bressner and not the entire minutes. She also felt that it would
only be fair for the new Board member, Ms. Lynn Huckle, to hear exactly what
Mr. Bressner had said pertaining to the responsibilities of the Cemetery Board.
Ms. Prainito offered to allow a non-City-employee to sit at the desk of one of the
Meeting Minutes
Cemetery Board
Boynton Beach, Florida
March 25, 2003
Recording Secretaries and transcribe Mr. Bressner's remarks from the cassette
tape. Ms. Prainito and Ms. Padgett will confirm a mutually agreeable time for this
to take place.
Notion
Vice Chair Tineri moved to approve the minutes of February 25,
amended. Ms. Padgett seconded the motion that carried unanimously.
2003 as
V. Receipt of Revenue/Expense Sheets - February 2003
Notion
Ms. Padgett moved to place the Revenue/Expense Sheets from February 2003 on
file. Vice Chair Tineri seconded the motion that passed unanimously.
VT. Receipt of Sales Reports - February 2003
The Board discussed this report, noting that at approximately 200 lot sales a
year, the Cemetery had about four years left before it would be filled. Mr.
Wildner pointed out that some of the lots that appeared to be available might
have been pre-sold. The Board asked Ms. Prainito to provide a breakdown that
would show the number of lots available and the number of lots that were sold
pre-need and Ms. Prainito agreed to do so.
Notion
Vice Chair Tineri moved to accept the February 2003 Sales Reports and place
them on file. Ms. Huckle seconded the motion that carried unanimously.
Vz]. Unfinished Business
A, Public Works Department Report
Ms. Glenda Hall distributed overlay representations of a modified "Circle" at the
Boynton Beach Memorial Cemetery. l~t was recognized that emergency vehicles
had to be able to get around the circle, preferably without driving over the grass
to do so. It was also recognized that some kind of barrier was desirable to help
prevent visitors from speeding. The Board's preference seemed to be to make
the existing area larger, to place a tree or memorial bush within the circle, and to
widen the roadway by using some of the lawn from the existing circle and some
from the grass that abuts the current roadway. Ms. Hall indicated that staff
would do some research regarding the exact location where the burials ended in
order to take some of the lawn for the roadway.
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Meeting Minutes
Cemetery Board
Boynton Beach, Florida
March 25, 2003
Motion
Ms. Huckle moved to direct staff to look into the possibility of widening the
roadways by using some of the existing circle and some of the lawn that abuts
the roadway currently and to reduce the height of the curbing if possible. Ms.
Padgett seconded the motion that passed unanimously.
D. Discussion of Entranceway Circle (heard out of agenda order)
Vice Chair Tineri asked if there were any plans in process to return plants to this
area that was now covered in mulch. Ms. Hall mentioned that at one time, staff
had recommended bromeliads for the area but that the project was dropped
since the cost was too high. After discussion, it became evident that staff had
gotten prices from a plant supplier in Homestead for a large number of plants.
The Board requested that staff look into the prices at local plant suppliers like
Home Depot and Lowes and consider using a smaller number of plants. It was
felt that even if the plants were more widely spaced, they would soon grow to
cover the area and make a nice ground cover. Ms. Padgett offered the excess
bromeliads in her backyard and this option was discussed as well. Ms. Hall said
the plants would have to be dug up and brought to the Cemetery since City
workers are prohibited from going on private property. Ms. Hall will investigate
the current cost and telephone the Board members to seek their approval. If the
price is right and the Board members agree on the telephone, Ms. Hall will be
able to proceed immediately rather than wait for the next quarterly meeting.
Motion
Ms. Huckle moved to direct staff to investigate the possibility of getting some
prices on bromeliads for this area, using Ms. Padgett's bromeliads if necessary.
Staff will contact the Board members for their approval when the prices are
available. Ms. Padgett seconded the motion that carried unanimously.
B. Reports on Cemetery Areas Assigned to Members
Vice Chair Tineri remarked that the inside of Sara Sims looked good but that the
area outside around the fence was heavily littered with garbage, bottles, and
trash. Ms. Hall stated that when the area is cleaned up in the morning of one
day, it looks the same way by the morning of the next day. Ms. Roberts asked
Ms. Hall if the area were cleaned on a regular schedule and Ms. Hall will
investigate that. Ms. Huckle suggested putting a sign up stating that littering, or
something to that effect, was against the law. Ms. Roberts stated that they
would ensure that this area is included in the maintenance schedule. Ms. Hall
noted that the litter at Sara Sims was an aggregate of the users of the
convenience store, the users of the park, and the individuals who walk by the
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Meeting Minutes
Cemetery Board
Boynton Beach, Florida
March 25, 2003
park. Ms. Huckle confirmed that the City does provide trash receptacles at this
location.
Ms. Padgett wanted to see flowers around the base of the monument in the
children's section. Ms. Hall thought that flowering heather might be suitable and
offered to look into it.
Discussion of Draft of Letter to Brady Osborne
Ms. Prainito provided each of the Board members with a draft copy of a letter
written in response to an incident where Mr. Osborne refused to allow a
committal service in the Chapel because an individual had not purchased space
within the Chapel building. Mr. Bressner directed the City Attorney to review the
matter and the draft reflects Legal's interpretation. The Board agreed with the
content of the letter; however, a discussion ensued about the signature that
should appear on the letter. Mrs. Prainito offered to change the letter to show
the Chairman's signature. The Board members unanimously agreed that the
letter should contain the City Manager's signature because of the authority
associated with it. Chairman Nyquist agreed to sign the letter along with the City
Manager. Mrs. Prainito agreed to forward the Board's recommendation to the
City Manager.
Discussion of Status of Cemeterv's Recommendation to Exoand
Ms. Huckle asked about the status of this item. Ms. Roberts explained that the
Board's recommendation had been forwarded to the City Commission and was
on their Future Agenda ~[tems. The issue is currently tabled pending a joint
meeting between the City Manager, the City Commission, and the Cemetery
Board to be held during the summer to discuss the options.
C. Review Cemetery Rules and Regulations
Ms. Roberts stated that the Board was going to look at the existing rules and
regulations for the Cemetery and make recommendations for changes. Staff will
put the Board's recommendations into draft format and bring it back to the
Board for approval. The final recommendations will be forwarded to the City
Commission for approval by Resolution.
The Board discussed Regulation #18 pertaining to the type of flowers that are
permitted. Ms. Huckle strongly believed that artificial flowers should be allowed
in the Mausoleum, in keeping with the policy of allowing them elsewhere in the
Cemetery. The Board decided to change the wording of the first two sentences
of item #18 as follows:
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Meeting Minutes
Cemetery Board
Boynton Beach, Florida
March 25, 2003
Fresh flowers, artificial flowers, and potted plants are permitted (omitting
reference to three days). One vase or plant per crypt/niche will be allowed. The
rest of item #18 will remain the same.
The Board discussed the Rules and Regulations but decided to defer action until
the next meeting since they wanted to take the Rules and Regulations home and
consider them at length.
:[rem #3 was discussed. The item now reads, 'Tn addition to the grave marker,
there wi//be a #mit of three items placed on a grave site." Ms. Roberts indicated
that people often leave more than three items on a gravesite and that it was a
problem for the Cemetery Crew Leader, who has to remove the excess items.
Although the Cemetery crew tries to be lenient in the year after a funeral and
during the holidays, there were many times when it was necessary to remove
things.
After discussing various options, the Board decided that Mr. Aniki should notify
the family by letter that there were too many items on the grave and ask for
their directions about what to remove. The letters should be kept on file and
could be produced if someone wanted to know what kind of attempt had been
made to contact them. Everyone agreed that some kind of log of telephone calls
and/or letters should be kept also.
Ms. Prainito pointed out that item #23 called for notification of the Boynton
Beach Mausoleum, :[nc. by certified mail of proposed changes to the Rules and
Regulations at the same time that any Commission action is sought regarding the
rules.
:[t was felt that the Rules and Regulations needed to be posted in a prominent
place so that Cemetery visitors would remember them.
VIII. New Business
None
IX. Other
Ms. Padgett inquired about whether the brick panels in the front wall at the main
cemetery could be cleaned. Chair Nyquist remarked that Mr. Aniki had gotten a
product from Texas for cleaning and believed that it was going to be tested out
on the fence that faces south.
Meeting Minutes
Cemetery Board
Boynton Beach, Florida
March 25, 2003
Ms. Padgett inquired about the pump also. Ms. Roberts stated that the pump
was still being repaired and that staff was working with Facilities Management to
find a way to hide it once it gets totally back in service. Ms. Roberts will follow
through on this.
Vice Chair Tineri asked about the office that the Board wanted to erect for Mr.
Aniki in the garage. Ms. Roberts stated that the City had required the Public
Works Department to make budget cuts and this was one of the items that was
cut. Ms. Roberts announced that the budget process would start in April and they
could resubmit the request if the Board so desired. Chair Nyquist asked if a
Board member could participate in the budget discussions and Ms. Roberts said
that they could. Chair Nyquist will attend and represent the Board.
Quarterly Meetings
The Board discussed the idea of quarterly meetings. The consensus was that the
Board wanted to have the monthly reports sent to them in the mail.
Motion
Ms. Huckle moved that the Cemetery Board have quarterly meetings from now
on. Vice Tined seconded the motion that carried unanimously.
X. Adjournment
Since there was no further business before the Board, the meeting was duly
adjourned at 8:30 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Susan Collins
Recording Secretary
(032603)
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