Cemetery board approves $31,105 transfer to cover recent burial invoices amid questions about subsidies and account oversight

The Cemetery Board approved a transfer of $31,105 to cover burial-related invoices after finance staff and board members reviewed recent charges.

City staff reported the cemetery management account balance as $27,040. A board member noted a "due from the cemetery" for December of $17,940 and an additional invoice of $13,165, which board members summed as a $31,105 transfer covering charges dated Dec. 17 through Jan. 7. A motion to approve the transfer was recorded as "Motion by Frasier, second by Brown." Member Brown, Member Jackson and Chair Frasier voted yes and the motion carried.

Board members also questioned how much the cemetery will continue to be subsidized by other city departments and who negotiated prior payment arrangements. An unidentified board member asked whether the cemetery would have a separate account routing funds directly to management and whether more than two signatures would be required; city staff said they are negotiating with another bank for city funds and do not want to change procedures until the new arrangement is final.

The board took no additional binding action on account-signature rules or subsidy policy at the meeting. Following the votes, the meeting was adjourned at 1:19 p.m.