Greenfield will address cemetery ordinance at later date

The Greenfield Village Council wants to take the summer to allow emotions to cool down before any legislative changes are made regarding the Greenfield Cemetery. 

Approximately 20 area residents turned out to express their disappointment in the Greenfield Village Council's and administration's handling of the enforcement of the village ordinance regulating plot decorations at the Greenfield Cemetery during a meeting held earlier this month. 

During council's second monthly meeting, held Wednesday, June 20, two residents addressed council on the matter. 

Greenfield resident Brian Piatt told council that just because the numbers in attendance were diminished, it did not mean that the issue was becoming less important. 

Council President Betty Jackman said that she would call an ordinance committee meeting, most likely some time in August, because she wanted to let the highly emotional issue calm down before council considered permanent changes to the ordinance. 

"I think we should just try to live with it for a while," Jackman said.

The village's ordinance regarding decorations and other items permitted at grave sites in the Greenfield Cemetery were voted into effect in 2010. A press release that was issued by Greenfield City Manager Betty Bishop on May 10, stating that, "On or after May 20, 2012, cemetery personnel and volunteers will remove all items that are unsightly and/or do not comply with the cemetery rules. Those items will be put in an area close to the work building for 10 (ten) days and if are not claimed will be disposed of on or after May 30, 2012."

Many people have taken issue with the removal of benches, plants and solar lighting. 

Jackman and council member Brenda Losey said that solar lights are not specifically addressed in the ordinance, but that the plastic lights became a danger to village employees because they could become projectiles when struck by a lawnmower or weed eater. 

According to the ordinance, the city manager can approve exceptions to the items that are prohibited on an individual basis. Citizens have asked that Greenfield issue paperwork or forms so they can keep records of the changes Bishop has approved. 

Law Director Brian Zets told council Wednesday evening that he would advise against creating such permits. 

"The more exceptions you create to the rule, eventually the exceptions become the rule," Zets said. 

Zets said that rather than creating a permit system, the ordinance should be changed to actually state what council wants to permit. 

Jackman said that the issue did not receive a lot of attention during the numerous public meetings council and the ordinance committee had when they were making the changes in 2010. 

"We didn't do this lightly," Jackman said. "We had meetings as a committee and as a whole. I am only one vote, but I think we need to let this lie, let everyone calm down. Everyone's emotions are really high on this right now." 

In addition to the items that were permitted, Jackman said that she also wanted to address the residents who had been mowing grass on their individual plots, saying that someone could get hurt and the village would be liable. 

Council member Bob Berstrom said that when council amended the ordinance, "I think we left too much gray area." 

In other business, council heard the first reading of a resolution to repeal Ordinance Number 23-10, adopted in November 2010, "and then re-setting salaries and wage ranges for the classified and unclassified non-bargaining unit employees." 

Borreson said that he was against the village prioritizing creating new positions over doing things like fix potholes and take care of infrastructure. 

Jackman said that the ordinance was not creating positions or promoting people but rather seeks to put the positions back into the pay ordinance after previous Greenfield City Manager Charley Bowman had recommended supervisor positions be removed. 

Council member Bill Redenbaugh said that there were multiple paving projects that were ongoing and that the village was addressing what they could.

That ordinance will have two additional readings before it is considered for passage. 

Council voted 5-0 Wednesday to waive the three-reading rules and pass as an emergency an ordinance amending the 2012 permanent appropriations ordinance and increase the following funds: 

• Council auditor health charge by $10,500.
• The park fund by $1,200.
• The operating supply fund by $1,200. 

Council also voted to cancel the first July council meeting, as it fell on July 4. The next meeting will be held July 18 at 7:30 p.m.