Newberry Updates Cemetery Policy, No Longer Performing Internments

NEWBERRY ‒ The City of Newberry will no longer be performing cemetery internment services. A legislative hearing relating to updates to the cost of cemetery lots was conducted on Sept. 14 and received approval on second and final reading. Ordinance 2020-15 updates the City’s policy to remove the cost of lots and cemetery operational services and move those costs to the Fees and Fine resolution approved as part of the annual budget process.

In addition, the cost of internment, the actual excavation of the gravesite for installation of the vault and the covering of the vault after the funeral, which has been charged by the City, will now be deleted from the costs as internment is performed by the presiding funeral home.

Director of Utilities and Public Works Jamie Jones said the regulations for the daily operation of the cemetery are in the form of an ordinance and can only be modified by amending the ordinance. By moving this item to the Fees and Fine resolution, changes can be made in the future by updating that document as part of the annual budget process.

“Currently, the actual internment is performed by the City Public Works Department. The Cemetery Ordinance identifies a cost for this service at a minimum of $400 to be collected by the City of Newberry, which is in addition to any and all charges by the presiding funeral home,” said Jones.

After researching seven municipally-owned cemeteries in the general area, Jones found that in every case the actual opening and closing of the gravesite was performed by the funeral home providing the funeral service. In addition, Jones found that the cost of internment is part of the funeral services package for most funeral homes, regardless if the funeral home opens or closes the grave site.

The City has developed a Policy and Procedure Manual for the operation of the City Cemetery. As part of this action, the Commission adopted the manual and authorizes the City Manager to maintain and amend the policies and procedures as necessary to meet the needs of the City and its citizens, as well as to ensure compliance with federal and state laws.

This item was unanimously approved on second reading.

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