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Report To: Joint General Government and Planning and Development Committees
Date of Meeting: January 7, 2019
Report Number: CLD -002-19 Resolution: JC -068-19
File Number: By-law Number:
Report Subject: Discontinuance of Abandoned Cemeteries Board
Recommendations:
1. That Report CLD -002-19 be received;
2. That the Clarington Abandoned Cemeteries Board be disbanded;
3. That the existing members of the Clarington Abandoned Cemeteries Board be thanked
for their work on the Committee; and
4. That all interested parties listed in Report CLD -002-19 and any delegations be advised
of Council's decision.
Municipality of Clarington
Report CLD -002-19
Page 2
Report Overview
This report provides background information for Members of Committee to consider the
disbandment of the Clarington Abandoned Cemeteries Board.
1. Background
1.1 In 1976, the Ministry of Municipal Affairs approached the Town of Newcastle regarding
the maintenance of cemeteries. As a result, Council adopted the recommendation of
the Community Services Committee to create a committee for the care of abandoned
cemeteries (14 cemeteries) in Darlington Township.
1.2 The Cemetery Board of Clarke Township (19 cemeteries) was put in place by the
passing of Clarke Township By-law 1403 in 1962, which created the Board to administer
and operate the Clarke cemeteries. Subsequent by-laws were passed, with the Town of
Newcastle By-law 77-25, as amended, remaining as the by-law establishing that the
municipality would maintain, manage, regulate, and control certain cemeteries.
1.3 Arising out of Report CD -12-94, Resolution #GPA -222-94, recommending that the
Clarke and Darlington cemetery boards be disbanded and rolled into a single
"Abandoned Cemeteries Board" to maintain the 33 Clarington abandoned cemeteries,
was approved.
2. Current Situation
2.1 The Board consists of seven citizens and one Member of Council. They meet at the call
of the Chair (typically once or twice a year) and record minutes, with most of their work
being "hands on" usually consisting of an inspection tour of the abandoned cemeteries
as well as ensuring that each cemetery is maintained. For many years, their work has
consisted of cleaning the headstones.
2.2 In 2015, the Committee agreed that they would discontinue the practice of cleaning the
stones and allow nature to preserve them; by way of allowing the moss to naturally
encapsulate the stone. This approach is consistent with industry practice and how our
active cemeteries are maintained (i.e. they do not clean any headstones, they only
repair or lay down stones that are unsafe, and they work on general ground
maintenance and pruning).
2.3 The Operations Department staff performs an annual inspection of the abandoned
cemeteries for health and safety concerns, and provide on-going care and maintenance
as required. Note, where the Department is unable to undertake the maintenance for a
few select, small cemeteries, the contractor (contracted by the Municipality) is directed
to undertake the work.
2.4 In recent years, the Committee's work has consisted of data collection and photograph
collection, to be incorporated into the Clerk's Department cemetery software database,
Municipality of Clarington Page 3
Report CLD -002-19
Stone Orchards. This work is continuing to be processed by staff and is expected to be
completed by the end of 2019.
2.5 Given that the property maintenance is managed by staff and the records maintenance
has and will be fully digitized and preserved, there is no longer a need for the
Committee to continue.
2.6 During their last meeting, on December 7, 2017, the Committee discussed the
possibility of the disbanding the Board and they were in general agreement on
disbanding.
I Clarington Cemeteries - Web Access
3.1 The Municipal Clerk's Department plans to continue the project begun in 2015, to
provide web access for information on all Clarington cemeteries (active and
abandoned).
4. Concurrence
This report has been reviewed by the Director of Operations, who concurs with the
recommendations.
5. Conclusion
It is respectfully recommended that, since the Clarington Abandoned Cemeteries Board
has fulfilled its mandate, the Board be disbanded.
6. Strategic Plan Application
Not applicable.
Submitted by:
C. Anne Greentree, B.A., CMO,
Municipal Clerk
Reviewed by: f ,f
Andrew C. Allison, B. Comm, LL.B
CAO
Staff Contact: June Gallagher, Deputy Clerk, 905-623-3379 ext. 2103 or
jgallagher@clarington.net
The following is a list of the interested parties to be notified of Council's decision:
Members of the Clarington Abandoned Cemeteries Board