Adams Cemetery Commission Looks at Green Burials
ADAMS, Mass. — The Cemetery Commission wants to be prepared for the newest in trend in funerals: green burials.
Green burials are legal in many states and have guidelines for the natural and environmentally friendly way to be buried.
"It is without a vault, and you are just wrapped in your birthday suit," Commissioner Bruce Shepley explained at Thursday's meeting. "There is a trend out there and areas are set aside that look very much like forests that are all green and beautiful."
Bodies go into the ground without a vault or casket, and without being embalmed so they can decompose naturally without contaminating the land.
People can be buried in biodegradable shrouds, pods, and even egg-shaped pods that break down and produce a tree.
Clairmont questioned the legality of a natural burial in Massachusetts and noted a vault is required for burials in an Adams public cemetery. He said people may be able to do this in private cemeteries such as St. Stanislaus'.
There is no law in the state that directly addresses green burials, although the cautions that unembalmed bodies start to decompose quicker than most people anticipate.
More information on Massachusetts's stance on green burial can be found here and general information can be found here.
Commissioner Lawrence Clairmont suggested to that the commission designate an open area near the path that leads to the falls at Bellevue Cemetery for cremation burials.
"That would be a really good spot for cremated remains," he said. "It's a nice plot of land. We could plant some bushes and put a nice path."
He said cars often park there when people visit Bellevue Falls. Some sort of divider could be placed between the path and the land to deter cars from parking there.
Shepley said they could install a reflective garden similar to the memorial garden in Southview Cemetery in North Adams.
Shepley said he also would like to look into tree replacement program to help replenish cemetery trees.
"Say that I want to donate a tree to the cemetery in honor of someone .. our budget is limited in tree replacement just as it is in bringing down bad trees," he said. "I am going to investigate that further."
He quelled concerns about the memorial stone fund.
When contractors pour stone foundations, they must pay a $15 inspection fee. This was not done through 2015.
Not only was this money lost and not replenishing the account, but the memorial stones themselves were not being inspected.
Shepley said the contractors are aware of the oversight and are sending checks in.
"It is a small amount of money and the contractors involved are either now sending in the checks or will be sending the checks," he said. "They are aware it was oversight and it will be taken care of."
Shepley said there will be no paving of cemetery roads this year.
"It is probably not going to happened again this year," he said. "We fall underneath the priorities of street and sidewalk repairs but it has been addressed and it will stay on our radar."
Shepley thanked Clairmont for his 18 years of service. Clairmont will not run for re-election
"It is a special statement in itself that an individual has chosen to become involved in the town and make it a better place. To do it for 18 years makes that statement that much stronger," Shepley said. "You have served faithfully, you have made a difference, and you have seen changes ... on behalf of the commission, thank you very much."
He added that with Clairmont gone and no one on the ballot to take his place, the commission will now be a two-member board, with Commissioner Frederick Hobart. He said this will make it difficult to have a quorum.
He said if someone is interested in the position he will figure out how to appoint them.
Tags: burials, cemetery commission,
