Cemetery Board public meetings in 2020
3 substantive meetings from 2020, with official agendas or minutes and plain-English summaries.
Cemetery Board
The Louisiana Cemetery Board will consider approving five pre-construction sales projects for mausoleums and a cemetery phase, along with ratifying certificates of authority for new and renewing cemeteries. The board will also review financial reports, proposed budget amendments, and a projected 2021 budget, and discuss legal litigation and a lease renewal.
- Approval of pre-construction sales projects: Sacred Heart Cemetery (Port Barre), St. Augustine Cemetery (Natchez), St. Philomena Cemetery (Labadieville), Southern Memorial Gardens (Baton Rouge), The Bridge Cemetery (New Iberia)
- Ratification of certificates of authority for 9 new exempt cemeteries and renewals for non-exempt and CSO certificates
- Discussion of 2020 proposed budget amendments and projected 2021 budget
- Ratification of proposed consent agreements and modification of a pre-construction sales project by American Cemetery Consultants
- Approval of CPA engagement (Pinell & Martinez, LLC) and LCB office lease renewal option (June 2021–May 2026)
The Board approved the 2021 budget and authorized salary increases for the Compliance Investigator and Assistant to the Director. Members also ratified various cemetery licenses, pre-construction sales applications, and a lease renewal for the board's office.
- Approved 2021 Budget including salary increases (Unanimous)
- Approved 10% salary increase for Compliance Investigator pending Civil Service Commission approval (Unanimous)
- Approved 4% salary increase for Assistant to the Director effective first pay period of 2021 (Unanimous)
- Approved lease renewal for office through May 31, 2026 (Unanimous)
- Approved CPA engagement letter from Pinell & Martinez, LLC for 2020-2022 (Unanimous)
- Approved Argent Trust Master Trust modifications to hire third-party record keeper and increase annual fee to 1.10% (Unanimous)
- Ratified modification to Pythian Cemetery Garden Mausoleum No. 3 to reduce crypts from 96 to 60 (Unanimous)
- Appointed the Director to the Slavery Ancestral Burial Grounds Preservation Commission (Unanimous)
Cemetery Board
The Louisiana Cemetery Board will meet to discuss the 2021 budget and fee schedules, as well as proposed changes to board policies and procedures. The meeting also includes an executive session for personnel matters. Public comments are limited to 5 minutes per person and 20 minutes total per agenda item.
- Discussion of 2021 budget and fee schedules
- Proposed changes to board policies and procedures
- Executive session for personnel matters
The Executive Committee recommended a salary increase for Compliance Investigator Joni C. Thompson and a 4% increase for Assistant to the Director Anna Aucoin. The Committee also recommended adopting a new policy regarding compensation for advanced degrees. All recommendations are subject to approval by the full Board and Civil Service.
- Recommended salary increase for Joni C. Thompson for attaining an MBA (unanimous)
- Recommended 4% salary increase for Anna Aucoin in the proposed 2021 Budget
- Recommended adoption of Policy Section 3(B) regarding Compensation for Attainment of an Advanced Degree (unanimous)
Cemetery Board
The Louisiana Cemetery Board is meeting via video conference due to the COVID-19 public health emergency. The board will consider approving pre-construction sales projects for several cemeteries, ratifying numerous certificates of authority for cemeteries across the state, and discussing industry issues related to COVID-19. The agenda also includes late fee waiver requests, travel approvals, and executive session items involving ongoing litigation.
- Pre-construction sales projects: St. Bernard Cemetery #2 (Breaux Bridge), Westlawn Memorial Park (Gretna), Holy Family Cemetery (New Iberia), Greenoaks Memorial Park (Baton Rouge)
- Ratification of certificates of authority for 2019 and 2020, including new, renewal, exempt, and non-exempt categories
- Late fee waiver requests from Eunice North Cemetery (Eunice) and Cedar Hill Cemetery (Washington)
- Discussion of industry and regulatory issues related to COVID-19
- Executive session on multiple lawsuits, including cases against Oak Lane Memorial Park and Westlawn Cemeteries
The Board approved several administrative items including financial statements and pre-construction sales applications. Members also authorized the extension of non-essential deadlines and late fees due to COVID-19 emergency proclamations.
- Approved November 2019 meeting minutes (unanimous)
- Accepted financial statements for year ending Dec 31, 2019, and April 2020 (unanimous)
- Approved Applications for Pre-Construction Sales Projects (unanimous)
- Ratified various Certificates of Authority and licenses (unanimous)
- Ratified April 2020 Summary Report from Examination & Inspection Committee (unanimous)
- Authorized staff to extend non-essential deadlines and late fees due to COVID-19 (unanimous)
- Granted late fee waivers for Eunice North Cemetery and Cedar Hill Cemetery (unanimous)
- Approved travel/registration for Director to attend Tri-State Cemetery Conference (contingent on restrictions) and DCRA video conference (unanimous)