HomeMy Public PortalAbout20180612 - Cemetery Commission - Meeting MinutesHopkinton Cemetery Commission
Minutes of Meeting held June 12, 2018
A meeting of the Hopkinton Cemetery Commission was held on June 12, 2018 in the restored
railroad depot on West Main Street. A Notice of Meeting was duly posted. The meeting
commenced at 7:05 p.m. In attendance were Claire Wright, Thomas Pratt, and John Palmer, all
the members of the Commission. Mrs. Wright presided and Mr. Palmer kept the minutes.
The Commission approved the minutes of the meeting held on May 15, 2018. Mr. Palmer will
forward these minutes for posting on the Town’s website.
Mrs. Wright reported on e-mail messages recently received from Messrs. Feoli and Grossetti
concerning the Cemetery Records Project. Mr. Feoli of Inception Technologies stated that
everything they are responsible for has been provided to Mr. Grossetti. Mr. Grossetti stated that
no training for the use of the software has yet been provided. He also stated that he was
scheduled to meet with Mr. Eisan (of Inception) on June 13, 2018 to receive a project update.
Mrs. Wright reported on two initiatives to repair damaged, leaning or fallen headstones and
monuments at Mt. Auburn Cemetery. One initiative involves the engagement of Gravestone
Services of New England to repair as many headstones as possible within the limitations of a
$10,000 grant approved for this purpose by the CPC Committee. The strategy for Gravestone
Services is to repair the headstones in the poorest condition prior to repairing those needing less
attention. The second initiative is for Daedalus Inc. of Watertown, MA to repair several
monuments in serious need of attention sometime later this year. Funds to pay for the Daedalus
work have yet to be secured.
Mr. Palmer reviewed multiyear analyses of the financial transactions recorded in the Town’s
Perpetual Care and Sale of Lots accounts with Mrs. Wright and Mr. Pratt. Those analyses
spanned a thirteen year period from FY 2004 through FY 2017. The June 30, 2017 balances on
the analyses were compared to and agree with the same accounts appearing in the 2017
Hopkinton Town Report. Although the analyses are in agreement with the Town Report, several
entries exist in certain years that are unexplained. Further investigation is needed to determine
their explanations. Mr. Palmer committed to maintain similar analyses on a continuous basis for
future fiscal years. Copies were provided to the Commission members.
The next meeting of the Commission will be at the call of the Chair.
The meeting adjourned at 8:30 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
/s/ John L. Palmer
John Palmer, Secretary
Minutes approved: November 1, 2018