Cemetery Board public meetings in 2021
3 substantive meetings from 2021, with official agendas or minutes and plain-English summaries.
Cemetery Board
The Louisiana Cemetery Board will meet via video conference on November 5, 2021, due to the COVID-19 public health emergency. The board will consider approving nine pre-construction sales projects for mausoleums and niches at cemeteries across the state, ratify certificates of authority for new and renewing cemeteries, and discuss ongoing litigation in executive session.
- Westlawn Cemeteries, LLC – Redeemer Mausoleum Buildings IV, V, VI (Gretna, LA)
- Beau Pre' Memorial Park – Garden of the Cross Mausoleum Sections G, H & I (Jeanerette, LA)
- Evangeline Memorial Gardens – Garden Mausoleum Building A (Carencro, LA)
- Ratification of new certificate #21-550 for Smith & Tate Investments d/b/a Rosaryville Cemetery (Ponchatoula, LA)
- Executive session litigation: State vs. Oak Lane Memorial Park (Ascension Parish) and Westlawn Cemeteries vs. Board (Jefferson Parish)
The Board approved the 2022 proposed budget and financial statements for 2021. It authorized salary increases for the Director and Assistant to the Director and extended the legal contract for Special Counsel. The Board also ratified several cemetery licenses and a consent agreement for Plainview Cemetery.
- Approved 2022 Proposed Budget and Jan-Oct 2021 financial statements (Unanimous)
- Approved salary increase of 4% for Assistant to the Director and 2% for Director (Unanimous)
- Authorized one-year extension of legal contract with The Derbes Law Firm, L.L.C. (Unanimous)
- Ratified Consent Agreement with Roberts United Methodist Church, Inc. d/b/a Plainview Cemetery (Unanimous)
- Approved Applications for Pre-Construction Sales Projects (Unanimous)
- Ratified 2021 Non-Exempt, Exempt, and 2019 Exempt certificates of authority (Unanimous)
- Authorized Attorney General to dismiss action against Oak Lane Memorial Park, L.L.C. upon compliance with specific terms (Unanimous)
- Authorized Attorney General to research dismissal or repayment plan for Evangeline Memorial Park, Inc. (Unanimous)
Cemetery Board
The Louisiana Cemetery Board Executive Committee will meet via video conference on October 13, 2021, due to the COVID-19 public health emergency. Agenda items include proposed amendments to the 2021 budget and projected 2022 budget and fee schedules. The board will also hold an executive session on personnel matters. Public comment is limited to 5 minutes per speaker, with a total of 20 minutes per agenda item.
- Discussion of 2021 Proposed Budget Amendments
- Discussion of 2022 Projected Budget and Fee Schedules
- Executive session on personnel matters
- Meeting held via video conference due to COVID-19 public health emergency
- Public comment limited to 5 minutes per speaker, 20 minutes total per agenda item
The Executive Committee established a timeline to hire a new Director following Lucy L. McCann's planned retirement. The committee also recommended the 2021 budget amendments, the 2022 proposed budget, and specific fee schedules for board approval.
- Recommended accepting Director applications starting April 1, 2022 (Unanimous)
- Recommended 2021 Budget amendments be presented to the Board (Unanimous)
- Recommended 2022 Proposed Budget be presented to the Board (Unanimous)
- Recommended 2022 Renewals for (Non-Exempt) Certificates of Authority remain $14.00 per interment (Unanimous)
- Recommended Merchandise Report filing fees remain $9.00 for 2022 contracts (Unanimous)
- Recommended Perpetual Care Report filing fees remain $4.00 for 2022 contracts (Unanimous)
Cemetery Board
The Louisiana Cemetery Board will meet to discuss and vote on several pre-construction sales projects for garden mausoleums at Catholic and municipal cemeteries across the state. The board will also consider ratification of numerous certificates of authority, an administrative complaint against Greenwood Cemetery, and late fee waiver requests. Old business includes a report on the Statewide Cemetery Response Task Force regarding hurricanes Laura, Delta, and Zeta.
- Pre-construction sales projects for garden mausoleums at six cemeteries, including Our Lady of Prompt Succor Church Cemetery (New Iberia) and St. Gabriel Cemetery (St. Gabriel)
- Administrative Complaint No. 2021-001 against Firemen’s Charitable and Benevolent Association of New Orleans (Greenwood Cemetery)
- Ratification of certificates of authority for new and renewing cemeteries, including George Washington Carver Memorial Park (Ruston) and Sacred Heart Cemetery No. 2 (Lake Charles)
- Late fee waiver requests from St. Peters Cemetery (Carencro) and Orange Grove & Graceland Cemeteries (Lake Charles)
- Executive session to discuss litigation involving the board, including cases against Oak Lane Memorial Park and Westlawn Cemeteries
The Board approved a new Master Trust Agreement with Argent Trust and allowed Evangeline Memorial Park to resume pre-need merchandise sales. The Board also ratified numerous cemetery licenses, approved pre-construction sales projects, and adopted a new Data Sanitization Policy.
- Approved Master Trust Agreement and revised Consent to Participate in the Master Trust (unanimous)
- Approved request for Evangeline Memorial Park to resume pre-need sales of merchandise (unanimous)
- Determined allegations in Administrative Complaint #2021-001 (Greenwood Cemetery) did not justify adjudication (unanimous)
- Authorized $4,326.75 withdrawal from Merchandise Trust Fund for City of Baker (unanimous)
- Approved Applications for Pre-Construction Sales Projects (unanimous)
- Ratified multiple 2020 and 2021 Non-Exempt, CSO, CMO, and Exempt licenses (unanimous)
- Adopted Section 8 — Data Sanitization Policy (unanimous)
- Ratified Consent Agreement with Walters Funerals, L.L.C. d/b/a Greenlawn Memorial Gardens (carried; Chairman abstained)