Cemetery Commission — Burlington, VT
Date: 2026-06-18
Time: 16:30

Thursday, June 18, 2026, 4:30 PM, 455 North Ave, Lakeview Cemetery OR REMOTELY
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When: Jun 18, 2026 04:30 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
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1. Procedural Items
 1.1. Motion to amend/adopt agenda
 Subject 1.2. motion to amend/adopt minutes from 5/21/2026
 Meeting June 18, 2026 - Cemetery Commission Meeting - Thursday, June 18, 2026, 4:30 PM,
 455 North Ave, Lakeview Cemetery OR REMOTELY via ZOOM


 Category 1. Procedural Items

 Department Parks, Recreation, & Waterfront


 Type

 Recommended Action

2. Public Forum
 Subject 2.1. Verbal Comments
 Meeting June 18, 2026 - Cemetery Commission Meeting - Thursday, June 18, 2026, 4:30 PM,
 455 North Ave, Lakeview Cemetery OR REMOTELY via ZOOM
 Category 2. Public Forum
 Department Council and Board


 Type

3. Agenda
 Subject 3.1. New policy – burial procedure
 Meeting June 18, 2026 - Cemetery Commission Meeting - Thursday, June 18, 2026, 4:30 PM,
 455 North Ave, Lakeview Cemetery OR REMOTELY via ZOOM
Category 3. Agenda

Department Parks, Recreation, & Waterfront


Type

Recommended Action

Subject 3.2. Section 8 Update
Meeting June 18, 2026 - Cemetery Commission Meeting - Thursday, June 18, 2026, 4:30 PM,
 455 North Ave, Lakeview Cemetery OR REMOTELY via ZOOM


Category 3. Agenda

Department Parks, Recreation, & Waterfront


Type

Recommended Action

  Subject 3.2. Muslim only section
  Meeting June 18, 2026 - Cemetery Commission Meeting - Thursday, June 18, 2026, 4:30 PM,
 455 North Ave, Lakeview Cemetery OR REMOTELY via ZOOM


  Category 3. Agenda

  Department Parks, Recreation, & Waterfront


  Type

  Recommended Action

  Subject 3.2. Feedback from City Attorney’s Office
  Meeting June 18, 2026 - Cemetery Commission Meeting - Thursday, June 18, 2026, 4:30 PM,
 455 North Ave, Lakeview Cemetery OR REMOTELY via ZOOM


  Category 3. Agenda

  Department Parks, Recreation, & Waterfront


  Type

  Recommended Action

  Subject 3.2. Feedback from Cemetery Commissioners
  Meeting June 18, 2026 - Cemetery Commission Meeting - Thursday, June 18, 2026, 4:30 PM,
 455 North Ave, Lakeview Cemetery OR REMOTELY via ZOOM


  Category 3. Agenda

  Department Parks, Recreation, & Waterfront


  Type

  Recommended Action
Subject 3.3. Section 8 Plan (Action)
Meeting June 18, 2026 - Cemetery Commission Meeting - Thursday, June 18, 2026, 4:30 PM,
 455 North Ave, Lakeview Cemetery OR REMOTELY via ZOOM


Category 3. Agenda

Department Parks, Recreation, & Waterfront


Type

Recommended Action

  Subject 3.3. Vote on Section 8 Plan
  Meeting June 18, 2026 - Cemetery Commission Meeting - Thursday, June 18, 2026, 4:30 PM,
 455 North Ave, Lakeview Cemetery OR REMOTELY via ZOOM


  Category 3. Agenda

  Department Parks, Recreation, & Waterfront


  Type

  Recommended Action

Subject 3.4. Green Burials
Meeting June 18, 2026 - Cemetery Commission Meeting - Thursday, June 18, 2026, 4:30 PM,
 455 North Ave, Lakeview Cemetery OR REMOTELY via ZOOM


Category 3. Agenda

Department Parks, Recreation, & Waterfront


Type

Recommended Action

  Subject 3.4. Green Burial Policy Development
  Meeting June 18, 2026 - Cemetery Commission Meeting - Thursday, June 18, 2026, 4:30 PM,
 455 North Ave, Lakeview Cemetery OR REMOTELY via ZOOM


  Category 3. Agenda

  Department Parks, Recreation, & Waterfront


  Type

  Recommended Action

  Subject 3.4. Ordinance Language – status update
  Meeting June 18, 2026 - Cemetery Commission Meeting - Thursday, June 18, 2026, 4:30 PM,
 455 North Ave, Lakeview Cemetery OR REMOTELY via ZOOM


  Category 3. Agenda

  Department Parks, Recreation, & Waterfront
 Type

 Recommended Action

 Subject 3.5. Cambrian Rise Stormwater – status update
 Meeting June 18, 2026 - Cemetery Commission Meeting - Thursday, June 18, 2026, 4:30 PM,
 455 North Ave, Lakeview Cemetery OR REMOTELY via ZOOM


 Category 3. Agenda

 Department Parks, Recreation, & Waterfront


 Type

 Recommended Action

 Subject 3.6. Summer Commission Meeting Schedule
 Meeting June 18, 2026 - Cemetery Commission Meeting - Thursday, June 18, 2026, 4:30 PM,
 455 North Ave, Lakeview Cemetery OR REMOTELY via ZOOM


 Category 3. Agenda

 Department Parks, Recreation, & Waterfront


 Type

 Recommended Action

4. Adjournment
 Subject 4.1. Motion to adjourn
 Meeting June 18, 2026 - Cemetery Commission Meeting - Thursday, June 18, 2026, 4:30 PM,
 455 North Ave, Lakeview Cemetery OR REMOTELY via ZOOM


 Category 4. Adjournment

 Department Council and Board


 Type

 Recommended Action

Cemetery Superintendent/BPRW Director: Cindi Wight
 Chair: Jennifer Diaz
 Vice-chair – Alexandra Millar




Cemetery Commission Meeting Minutes

Meeting Date: June 18, 2026

Commissioners Present: Jennifer Diaz, Martha Dallas, Nancy Kirby, Alexandra Millar-House, Mary
Wesley

Staff Present: Holli Bushnell, Steve Bachand, Hayley McClenahan

Meeting was called to order 4:34pm at by Chair Jennifer Diaz

  I. Approval of Agenda
 Diaz moved to adopt the agenda, Alexandra Millar and Mary Wesley moved to second, all were
 in favor

  II. Approval of minutes from 5/21/2026
 Diaz moved, Millar asked that the last sentence of the section 8 section be changed to the
 following: So we could move forward either way with the proposed section 8 design without
 needing an additional concept drawing.”, Diaz moved to adopt the minutes as amended, Martha
 Dallas and Millar seconded, all were in favor.

 III. Public Forum
 Public forum was opened at 4:37pm. As no one was present or wished to speak, public forum
 was also closed at 4:37pm.

 IV. New Policy – Burial Procedure
 Steve Bachand shared that there is no update on the new burial procedure policy. The work is
 still in progress and it’s going to be a work in progress for likely months. Bachand also shared
 that a decision has come through regarding one of our legal matters. He asked City Attorney
 Hayley McClenahan to share what happened regarding the legal matter that lead us to work on
 the burial policy. Millar asked why this language is happening and what’s needed.
 Essentially, we had a matter where the original lot owners were buried here back in the 1900s.
 When this happens, the burial rights are passed to any and all descendants and permission is
 required from all regarding future burials. There are 4 children in this particular family, and one
 has passed away. The remaining 3 siblings were not in agreement about letting the 4th sibling
 be buried in the lot. This legal matter prompted us to develop the language.
 McClenahan shared that the draft policy is intended to be a guiding document for the city when
 there is a dispute amongst family members who all can claim ownership. The policy intends to


 City of Burlington  455 North Avenue  Burlington, Vermont 05401  (802) 863-2075
 fill that gap and give staff guidelines as to what to do. There must be 100% agreement. If we
 don’t have that, the policy makes next steps clear. It’s a guiding framework for how we
 respond when there is a lot of cooks in the kitchen and a difference of opinion. McClenahan
 stated that she would be happy to answer legal questions. Office assistant Holli Bushnell added
 that this is actually legal precedent. She had previously asked a cemetery expert from the state
 and he was not able to give her a clear answer regarding multigenerational ownership.
 Millar thought that the language provided to the commission states that if there is any doubt on
 the part of the cemetery superintendent, applicants may be required to follow additional
 processes. What does that require? Is it the superintendent’s job to be on top of those things?
 What happens if we miss something? McClenahan thought that missing something would be
 possible even with the new policy. That said, the point of the policy is to show the amount of
 due diligence required in one of these situations. It requires that staff take reasonable steps,
 not do a deep dive on ancestry. For example – if we have someone coming in who wants to do a
 burial but has an estranged sibling, this doc would provide guidelines as to what to do next.
 Diaz confirmed that the thought was getting everyone’s consent, and without consensus there
 could be no burial. Diaz was not comfortable with this. She pointed out that people can be
 estranged or have control issues. Her thought was that whoever has power of attorney should
 be the point person or decider. Diaz felt that, if there’s discord in the family, a solution might be
 working with POA.
 Bachand explained that we’ve always requested that all family members agree to burial. In this
 instance there was some miswording that lead to things going further than they should have
 without agreement. We’ve never had this issue before because we’ve always asked for
 agreement. It is good that this is the first time something like this has happened. In the past
 people have either agreed or made separate arrangements.

V. Section 8 Update
 Bachand shared that he spoke with Parks comprehensive planner Sophie Sauve a few hours
 before the meeting. There are still amendments being made with the design firm regarding
 road width and the potential Muslim section. Bachand asked the commissioners if they felt
 comfortable voting to approve the section plan at this meeting.
 Millar stated she did not feel comfortable voting without a firm plan.
 Dallas asked if there is an urgency for commissioners to look at current drawings, considering
 they’re likely going to change. Bachand did feel that looking at the current drawings would still
 be helpful. The general concept is still there, but there might be detail changes. For example,
 the road width is not accurate, there are no funds for a new columbarium, and it is unclear if the
 Islamic Society wants regular or green graves. There is going to be another meeting with the
 Islamic society and it’s going to take more time.
 Millar asked if Bachand can email a PDF. Bachand will check, but he should be able to send it.



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Millar also asked if there had been a determination regarding the legality of another Muslim
only section. McClenahan doesn’t have any formal information, but she has looked at this a
little bit. The Islamic Society of Vermont has been a partner of the cemetery for a long time, and
the city recognizes that. The issue is that we’re a public, government owned cemetery. We
can’t discriminate against anyone for any reason. There are no issues moving forward with their
wishes, however, if someone who is not a member of the society wants to purchase lots in that
area, anyone can be buried there. We can design the area with their preferences in mind, but
anyone would be able to purchase there.
Diaz asked if the Islamic society have an issue with people not of the faith being buried there.
Bachand confirmed that they 100% emphatically do not want people of other faith’s to be
buried with them. It is basically forbidden by their religion to have a non-muslim person buried
with them. We did an interment in the past of someone who was not 100% truly Islamic and
when the society found out it was a huge problem. Currently, people who want to be buried in
the Muslim section need to get permission from the Imam in advance.
Millar asked if the Islamic Society could pre-purchase the lots the way Temple Sinai did. Then
they can decide to do whatever they want. Bushnell confirmed that Temple Sinai has 2 sections
that they purchased for themselves as did Nepali Calvary Church. Millar shared that it sounds
like purchasing is the way to ensure those spaces stay available to specific groups.
Bachand cautioned that this matter is just going to get super tricky. In new section, with
proposed Muslim section facing Mecca, if these lots become green burials they don’t get to
select the location. With all green burials, people are purchasing the rights to burial but not a
particular grave. That’s the policy that will be coming to commissioners.
Dallas felt that cart blanch reserving a section for just one faith doesn’t make sense. It’s not
good policy. There are faith communities who have their own cemeteries and do their own
thing. ISVT may be faced to decide regarding what matters to them more.
Bachand shared that he has been recommending to ISVT for more than a year that they
purchase their own land. They ask us to add more graves for them every year, and we keep
squeaking in a few more. Bachand is aware that ISVT may be looking at land in Winooski. We
would want to put restrictions on grave purchases. For example, we are proposing a 2-grave
maximum purchase in the green section.
Millar attempted to summarize, stating we’re waiting for more info and some design changes
before we vote. Bachand confirmed this. He added that we are also waiting on ISTV to make a
decision. He will reach out and let ISVT know what we’re proposing (green lots offered to
general public). McClenahan added that she will discuss appropriate language and ways to solve
this issue following the meeting. Diaz asked for clarification if we are talking about doing away
entirely with the Islamic section or only if it’s green burials? Bachand explained that we’ve had
this long-standing agreement with holding lots. We don’t do this for anyone else. There aren’t
other religious groups that don’t allow other faiths to be buried with them. If something legal



 Page 3 of 5
 were to come out of this regarding our long standing policy, there is a question if we could still
 keep an Islamic section that wasn’t green burials. McClenahan would like to follow up in an
 email after digging in a little further. Bachand confirmed that we need to be cautious about if
 we do allow ISTV to purchase bulk graves. If we allow them to do so, we’ll have to allow bulk
 graves to everyone. Millar asked if is the idea with section 8 regular graves to also limit bulk
 purchases, and Bachand confirmed it is not. Millar asked if ISVT could bulk purchase regular size
 graves, and Bachand confirmed that they could.

VI. Section 8 plan –
 The vote on the Section 8 plan was postponed to a future meeting

VII. Green Burials -
 Policy Development – This was already discussed. There are no additional updates from the last
 meeting.
 Dallas asked of staff have looked at other policies from other cemeteries. Bachand shared that
 we have looked at the policies from over 30 other cemeteries in addition to having staff visit two
 Vermont cemeteries offering green burial. We are definitely not reinventing the wheel. We
 actually learned a lot of things regarding lowering devices and other techniques. Even in current
 policy there’s stuff to be updated. We fully realize that this policy is probably going to be a living
 document, constantly changing. Dallas cautioned that we don’t let perfection be the enemy of
 good. Wesley was encouraged to hear the updates.

 Ordinance language status – McClenahan took language provided by Mary and ran with it. She
 sent a draft to Bachand and the parks team. Overall, the language is pretty basic which is good.
 The next step is, once there is agreement on the commission, we vote to move to city council.
 McClenahan shared the draft of the ordinance language.
 Bachand asked if McClenahan is recommending that we add rules and regulations of section to
 the ordinances. McClenahan confirmed that that was not the case. We could just say that a
 natural burial is exempt from vault requirement and then deal with new policy separately. That
 said, it’s usually more efficient to send all changes at once rather than do piecemeal. If it’s not
 in the ordinance and the City Council hasn’t authorized the commission to authorize a new
 green area, then only the City Council can make those decisions. Bachand asked if the City
 Council have to approve green burials and new area. McClenahan felt she needed to do more
 research, but it does look like the City Council has to delegate authority to the Cemetery
 Commission to approve new area and green burials. The commission can do all the heavy
 lifting, but the City Council must give final approval.
 Wesley felt that having McClenahan present to answer questions was super helpful. She would
 love to see draft of ordinance changes. Bachand confirmed he will send them out. McClenahan
 felt that everything will be clearer for commissioners with draft in front of them. The City


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 Council will be empowering commissioners to designate areas. McClenahan asked the
 commissioners to please send proposed edits and questions to her via email. She will have new
 draft for the next meeting.

VIII. Cambrian Rise Stormwater status update –
 Bachand reports that there has been a contractor at the office who has been trying to finish up
 the ramp. There was some confusion between contractor and designer. Things are moving
 forward with exterior design work at the Lakeview office. There is no update as to when the
 infrastructure work is going to begin, but some work has started again. Things are moving at a
 snails pace, but they are moving. The current ramp is not complete.

 IX. Summer Commission meeting schedule –
 Typically the commission does not meet in July and August. Diaz would like to continue the July
 and August hiatus but continue planning meetings. Bachand feels this is a great chance to pause
 and give us a chance to catch up with all the projects we’re working on. We should have updates
 for everything in September. Dallas was eager to see the draft language and map. She asked if
 it was OK to reply to these emails with comments and questions. Bachand asked her to make
 separate notes to be discussed at future meeting

  X. Adjournment
 The meeting was adjourned at 6:15pm. The next meeting will be in either August or September.




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