BRIDGEWATER - Don't die too close to weekends, holidays and quitting time.

 That's what the message may have been if this town decided to pass a motion tacking on extra fees for traditional and cremation burials if town workers had to put in extra time.

 But town council postponed its September 22 vote and referred the burial surcharge matter back to the Brookside Cemetery commission for further review.

 Councillor Kevin Marlin made the suggestion of spreading the overtime costs to the regular traditional and cremation burial rates at the town-owned cemetery.

 Deputy Mayor David Walker, chairman of the Brookside Cemetery commission, said his colleague made some good points and said it's likely a special meeting of the commission will be called to deal with the issue.

 The commission originally recommended adding $200 to the cost of a traditional burial in case of overtime being needed and an extra $275 on holidays. Under the original recommendation another $65 would be tacked onto a cremation burial requiring overtime, while $90 would be added to that rate in the case of a holiday.

 The commission is working to find a fair and better approach to the matter, Deputy Mayor Walker said.

 The commission may be learning from the past.

 In 2003, they raised the ire of funeral home directors and clergy when the commission, in a cost-control measure, decided to limit Brookside Cemetery burials to four days a week.

 After accusations of being cold-hearted, being cruel and burdening grieving families, the town in the end backed off the burial restriction idea.

posted on 10/07/08