NEVADA CEMETERY DISTRICT
10523 Willow Valley Road
Nevada City, CA 95959
MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING OF THE NEVADA CEMETERY DISTRICT
18 NOVEMBER 2015
GENE ALBAUGH COMMUNITY ROOM
MADELYN HELLING LIBRARY
980 HELLING WAY, NEVBADA CITY, CA 95959
I.
BOARD CALL TO ORDER:
The meeting was called to order at 5:32 PM at the District Office due to the
heating system at the Madelyn Helling Library being out of service.
II.
ROLL CALL :
All Trustees were present with the exception of Trustee Mertens. Also present
was Operations Manager, Melugin.
III.
CLOSED SESSION: Closed session pursuant to Government Code Section
54956.9(d)(4), the Board is meeting with District Counsel to receive legal advice
concerning litigation against Auburn Cemetery District. Report of any action
taken will be made.
There was no closed session. The Board has received from a letter from Dennis
Halsey, Esq, requesting certain public documents.
IV.
PUBLIC COMMENT ON MATTERS NOT ON AGENDA:
This is the time for any member of the public
to address the Board with any item not on the Agenda. According to CA Gov Code 54954, the public may talk about anything
within the subject matter jurisdiction of the NCD Board, but the Board generally cannot act on or discuss an item not on the
Agenda. However, the Board may “briefly respond” to comments or questions from the members of the public.
*Please
see rules for public comment at the bottom of Agenda. Copies of the agency and items are available. Equipment can be
available for the hearing impaired. Call District Office in advance to request this.
None.
1
V.
CONSENT CALENDAR:
All matters listed under the Consent Calendar are considered to be routine by the Board of
Directors and will be enacted by one motion at the appropriate time. There will be no separate discussion of these items. If
discussion is desired, that item will be removed from the Consent Calendar and will be considered separately.
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
F.
G.
Approval of Minutes of October 21, 2015 Regular Meeting
Approval of October 30, 2015 Monthly Financial Report
Approval of October 30, 2015 Annual Financial Report
Approval of October 30, 2015 Reserve Fund Report
Approval of October 30, 2015 Endowment Fund Report
Staff report on Sales for November to date
Approval of Auditor Controller’s report of warrants issued
Trustee Bushore moved to approve all items. Trustee Archer seconded the
motion. Approved 4 – 0 approved.
VI.
Manager’s Written Report for November 2015. Sales $12,722.42 to date
The North Bloomfield cemetery needed a site dug that had a large headstone in
the area. They were able to move the headstone to a safe area before digging
alleviating any problems.
VII
DISCUSSION OF GREEN BURIALS: Review and approve proposal for water table and
soils testing.
Operations Manager Melugin spoke with Tom Holder regarding soil liability,
drainage, perk water testing. With the rainy season here, they will be able to tell
where water table is. He gave an estimate of $2,000 - $3,000 for that area. The
NCD workers will open the holes for them, to save money. The Board is waiting
for a written proposal to go ahead with the testing.
Trustee Cassella made a motion that Trustee Archer and Trustee Bushore be given
the approval to sign off on the proposal not to exceed $3000. The Board can
amend the budget midyear to cover this cost. Trustee Bushore moved to accept
the motion. Trustee Archer seconded the motion. Approved 4 – 0.
2
VIII.
STANDING COMMITTEE REPORTS
A. Finance Committee: The Committee will present any recommendations it has
for the Board. Status report concerning 2014-2015 annual audit.
None
B. Marketing Committee: The Committee will report the status of its activities.
The Board will take any action necessary.
Trustee Bushore attended a showing sponsored by NCTV. They showed eight
different movies that were up to 10 minutes each in length, and all from
different producers. The Board could use young adult talent in making the
film that it wishes to produce. Trustee Bushore will speak with the new
director of NCTV to see if they will help the Board.
Trustee Archer stated that the youth group NC-NEO (Nevada County New
Events and Opportunities) might be able to assist the Board. This is a youth
group that was started several years ago. They put on 25 – 30 events a year
for young people.
Operations Manager Melugin met with the Director of Nevada City Film Club.
He asked them if they know of film makers. The offered to help the Board
with this activity. They want to put a book together for the board when this is
over.
Operations Manager Melugin will change the ad that has been running for the
District. He stated that the Board needs to talk about putting in the ad about
seeking donations of land in south county. The District needs up to 5 acres
with a minimum of two acres for a new cemetery. He will put this on obituary
page or write story about it. He will run the ad for two weeks then run story.
Trustee Cassella stated that he has no issue if someone wants to donate land
and wants it in their name. It can be a parklike setting and people can use it
in that capacity until such time as used for cemetery. The District will be
willing to look at everything that may come in to be donated. This will be a
tax deductible donation of land to the District. If the property cannot be used
as a cemetery, the District will hold the property long enough to get tax
benefit for the family then, with the approval of the donor, sell or trade the
property for a more suitable site.
The ad for two to five acres can be very simple. The story can go into further
details. Trustee Cassella suggested the ad be put in the senior section of The
Union newspaper.
3
Trustee Cassella suggested that the District go ahead and accept the parcels
that have already been offered with stipulation that we can sell them in
future. The Chairman will place this item back on the agenda for discussion.
C. Personnel Committee: The Committee will present the status of its activities
Board may take actions deemed necessary.
A discussion regarding hiring a new maintenance worker was held. Trustee
Archer moved that the District approve the hiring of a temporary maintenance
worker if needed. Trustee Hurst seconded the motion. Approved 4 – 0
A discussion was held on putting the job offer into the newspaper as specified
in the recruitment section of the District Personnel Code. The Operations
Manager hire on someone on a temporary basis. Trustee Bushore reported
the Indian Springs Winery property is now on sale. The workers are being laid
off. These are workers that could be considered. Prescribed pay for a
temporary worker is already laid out as a trainee position in the District
Compensation plan.
D. Property Committee:
1. LAFCO Proposed Annexations: The Committee will present and review/ act
on any LAFCO requests. None expected.
None
IX.
**OLD BUSINESS
Resolution 15-7 Authorizing the Acceptance of a portion of Assessor’s Parcel 68007-01, property commonly known as the You Bet Cemetery and authorizing the
Chair of the Board to execute such documents to accept and record such
donation of property to the Nevada Cemetery District.
An email has been received from Jeff Longo. He has asked the District not to
proceed with the donation documents at this time.
4
X.
* NEW BUSINESS:
A. Discussion and direction to staff concerning an insurance JPA.
At discussion was held regarding the District insurance carriers. Golden State
Risk Management is a wholly owned subsidiary of RDA . Members of the
Public Cemetery Alliance stated they may form their own insurance company.
They would not be a member of Golden State. The Cemetery District rates are
influenced by the fire departments in Golden State Risk Management higher
loss rates. District losses do not measure up to those of the fire departments.
Public cemeteries should come in much less for coverage costs.
The District has received a letter from a company that would assist in running
the new proposed JPA for public cemeteries. The question was asked if the
District is interested in joining the JPA and it was agreed to proceed in looking
at this.
Trustee Cassella stated that the District would need to ask Golden State to give
our information to the new proposed JPA. Trustee Archer stated that he would
like to see two or more of the Trustees go to the meeting to listen to what it is
being offered.
Trustee Hurst made a motion to ask Golden State to provide loss information
to the new proposed JPA. Trustee Archer seconded the motion. Approved 4 –
0.
B. Reports from Trustees concerning GSRMA annual conference.
Hold to next meeting.
C. Review NCD contracts
a. Certificate of Burial Rights and/or Service and Merchandise fees
Trustee Bushore stated that the District needs to come up with new forms if
we go with green burials.
Operations Manager Melugin and Trustee Bushore will meet and put together
a new form and review existing forms. They will then bring these back to the
meeting in December. It will then be submitted to the District’s counsel to
review.
b. Certificate of Burial Rights
5
c. Disposition Authorization Human Remains
XI.
APPROVAL OF BILLS: The Board will review the report of the Auditor-Controller of
warrants issued and warrant report for Board items and approve warrants for:
a) Lisa LaBarbera, payroll and bookkeeping services
b) Patricia Haller, Secretarial Services
c) Trustee warrants
d) District Counsel Jim Curtis
e) Other warrants as necessary
Trustee Archer moved to approve all bills. Trustee Hurst seconded the motion.
Approved 4 – 0.
XII.
***BOARD DISCUSSION: The Board will identify other relevant items and agendize
action items and reports for future meeting(s).
The District Christmas Party will be held on Wednesday, December 16th prior to the
regular monthly meeting. The party will begin at 4:30 PM and the regular meeting
will begin at 5:30 PM. The next meeting will take place at the Nevada County
Library.
Action Items for the December meeting.
Green burials
New forms
District counsel may need a closed session
Personnel hiring
XIII.
ADJOURNMENT
Trustee Hurst moved to adjourn the meeting. Trustee Archer seconded the
motion. Meeting adjourned at 7:15 PM
6
*Members of the public may comment for a maximum period of 3 minutes each concerning
any issue in the regular order of the agenda. The Board may act after such comments have
been heard. The Board may discuss these items (**) at any time except where a time certain
has been identified in advance. The Board shall not change the order of discussion for the
purpose of restricting the opportunity for discussion.
**The Board of Trustees can discuss these items at any time during the meeting.
***The Board will present issues/concerns for the next meeting Agenda.
Board Secretary, Patricia Haller
Board Chair, Dennis Cassella
7