Cemetery Board public meetings in 2022
5 substantive meetings from 2022, with official agendas or minutes and plain-English summaries.
Cemetery Board
The Louisiana Cemetery Board will consider approving five pre-construction sales projects for mausoleum additions and niches, ratify certificates of authority for new and renewing cemeteries, and vote on proposed consent agreements in two enforcement dockets. The board will also discuss budget amendments, a 2023 projected budget, and appointments to statewide task forces.
- Pre-construction sales projects: St. Anthony Mausoleum (Gheens), Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary Cemetery (Kaplan), St. Michael Cemetery (St. Martinville), St. Joseph Cemetery (Thibodaux), St. Bernard Memorial Gardens (Chalmette)
- Ratification of certificates of authority for 22 renewals and 3 new non-exempt cemeteries, plus 18 new exempt cemeteries
- Proposed consent agreements in Docket Nos. 2022-002-I involving Our Lady of Prompt Succor Cemetery and The Bank of Commerce of White Castle
- Conversion of previously stored merchandise to trusting for Evangeline Memorial Gardens (Carencro) and Restlawn Park Cemetery (Avondale)
- 2023 proposed budget and budget amendments for the current fiscal year
The Board approved the 2023 budget, maintaining renewal fees for certificates of authority at $14.00 per interment. It also ratified several cemetery licenses and approved the conversion of stored merchandise to trusting for two cemeteries. Additionally, the Board appointed Jerry W. Sullivan to two commissions and authorized his addition to bank accounts.
- Approved 2023 Proposed Budget (unanimous)
- Approved January through October 2022 financial statements (unanimous)
- Approved 2022 Proposed Budget Amendments (unanimous)
- Approved Applications for Pre-Construction Sales Projects (unanimous)
- Ratified 2022 Non-Exempt and Exempt licenses/renewals (unanimous)
- Ratified Consent Agreements with Our Lady of Prompt Succor Cemetery Association and Bank of Commerce of White Castle (unanimous)
- Ratified merchandise-to-trusting conversions for Evangeline Memorial Gardens and Restlawn Park Cemetery (carried/unanimous)
- Appointed Jerry W. Sullivan to the Statewide Cemetery Response Task Force and Slavery Ancestral Burial Grounds Preservation Commission (unanimous)
Cemetery Board
The Louisiana Cemetery Board will interview candidates to replace its special counsel and consider revisions to its policies, including an ADA policy update. The meeting includes public comment and a closed executive session for personnel matters.
- Interview of attorneys to replace Special Counsel to the Board
- Revisions to LCB Policies: Section 3(E) ADA Policy (technical revisions)
- Revisions to LCB Policies: Section 3(F) Grievance Procedure
- Brief refresher on Administrative Procedures Act and ex parte communications
The Board approved revisions to its ADA policy and established a new grievance procedure. It also contracted a new Special Counsel and agreed to retain the Director as a consultant following her retirement.
- Approved amended Section 3(E): Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Policy (unanimous)
- Approved new Section 3(F): Grievance Procedure (unanimous)
- Contracted Conlee Whiteley of Kanner & Whiteley, L.L.C. as Special Counsel for two years at $225 per hour (unanimous)
- Approved retaining Lucy L. McCann as a temporary part-time consultant after retirement at her current hourly rate (unanimous)
Cemetery Board
The Louisiana Cemetery Board will hear a petition for declaratory ruling in Docket No. 2020-001 involving Westlawn Cemeteries and its perpetual care trust fund. The board will also consider revisions to its policies on personnel, qualifications, telework, ADA, and certificates/licenses. A public comment period and an executive session on personnel matters are scheduled.
- Docket No. 2020-001: Petition for declaratory ruling on Westlawn Cemeteries perpetual care trust fund
- Revisions to Section 3: Personnel policy
- Revisions to Section 3(C): Extraordinary Qualification/Credentials policy
- Revisions to Section 3(D): Telework policy and Section 3(E): ADA policy
- Executive session for personnel matters
The Board adopted several new personnel policies to comply with state and Civil Service rules, including telework and ADA policies. The Board also approved changes to the internal approval process for license applications and increased a staff salary.
- Approved motion stating the use of the word 'tax' in Title 46 Park XIII, Chapter 15, Section 1505 exceeded Board authority
- Approved amendments to Section 3: Personnel to comply with Civil Services rules (Unanimous)
- Approved Section 3(C): Extraordinary Qualification/Credentials Policy (Unanimous)
- Approved Section 3(D): Telework Policy (Unanimous)
- Approved Section 3(E): Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Policy (Unanimous)
- Approved amendments to Section 7: Certificates and Licenses regarding internal approval processes (Unanimous)
- Approved 16% salary increase for the Assistant to the Director effective August 4, 2022 (Unanimous)
Cemetery Board
The Louisiana Cemetery Board will consider approving 12 pre-construction sales projects at cemeteries across the state, including Metairie Cemetery and St. Bernard Memorial Gardens. The board will also ratify numerous certificates of authority for new, transferred, and renewed cemetery licenses, and discuss late fee waiver requests from several cemeteries. Additionally, the board will take up proposed consent agreements in three enforcement dockets and hold an executive session on pending litigation and personnel matters.
- Approval of pre-construction sales projects at Metairie Cemetery, Tickfaw Catholic Cemetery, St. Bernard Memorial Gardens, and others
- Ratification of 2021 and 2022 non-exempt certificates of authority, including new licenses for Forest Lawn Cemetery and The Bridge Cemetery
- Late fee waiver requests from Oberlin Cemetery, St. Joseph Cemetery #1 & #2, and five other cemeteries
- Proposed consent agreements in dockets involving Greenoaks Memorial Park, Evening Star Cemetery, and Forest Park East & West
- Executive session on litigation including Westlawn Cemeteries vs. Louisiana Cemetery Board and a personnel matter
The Board authorized the Executive Committee to hire Jerry W. Sullivan as Director. Members also ratified several consent agreements for cemetery operators and approved various license renewals and project modifications.
- Authorized Executive Committee to hire Jerry W. Sullivan as Director (Unanimous)
- Approved November 5, 2021, meeting minutes (Unanimous)
- Accepted financial statements for year ending Dec 31, 2021 and through April 30, 2022 (Unanimous)
- Approved Applications for Pre-Construction Sales Projects (Unanimous)
- Ratified multiple 2021 and 2022 licenses and certificates of authority (Unanimous)
- Appointed Ms. Suggs to the Examination and Inspection Committee (Unanimous)
- Granted late fee waivers for seven cemetery renewal applications (Unanimous)
- Ratified Consent Agreements for Greenoaks Memorial Park, Evening Star Cemetery, and Forest Park East/West (Unanimous)
Cemetery Board
The Louisiana Cemetery Board's Executive Committee will meet to conduct interviews for the position of Director and discuss personnel matters in executive session. No votes or decisions are listed on the agenda.
- Interviews of applicants for position of Director
- Executive session for personnel matters
The Executive Committee interviewed four candidates for the position of Director. The committee unanimously recommended offering the position to Jerry W. Sullivan at a salary of $105,000 per year. This recommendation is subject to Mr. Sullivan's acceptance and approval by the full Board on May 27, 2022.
- Recommended Jerry W. Sullivan for Director at $105,000 per year (Unanimous)
- Entered Executive Session to discuss applicant qualifications (3-0)
- Exited Executive Session (3-0)