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Oakwood Cemetery's board of regency discussed its policy on decorations on and around grave sites Thursday, hoping to better clarify a policy on what is regulated and where objects are stored if removed.
In its list of rules and regulations, the cemetery reserves the right to remove any object that is deemed inappropriate or might become litter over time. Recently, the board experienced large amounts of items having to be removed because of improper placement on the graves.
"I think if you tried to take care of all unregulated materials out there, it would require more than the time of a full-time worker," Oakwood Secretary Ellen Hoffer said.
While the decoration policy is published in the Times-Union and informational booklets of regulations are distributed to friends and family whom purchase grave deeds, the board suggested better communicating its policies to cemetery visitors.
Members said sexton David Shaw could remove all litter objects from the grounds, but limited his removal of offensive materials until after a board decision.
"When it comes to opinions, the board is responsible for making those decisions," member Warren Tatter said.
In other matters, the board reviewed the placement of headstones inside its cremation garden, and voted to create additional concrete slabs west for the garden's expansion.
Members also approved a request to allow one particular headstone to face west inside the cremation garden. The headstone, not yet placed inside of Oakwood, was originally platted to face east in the cemetery's original layout. The vote passed 3-1, with all voting in favor stating the decision wouldn't create major complications.
"We're here to make things easier, not to make things more difficult," Tatter said.
But, Lewis Dobbins, who opposed the matter, defended the original layout of the cremation garden.
"If we're going to change the rules, then why do we even have rules?" he said. "I understand why (the request) was made, but I think we need to keep with our rules."
In other matters of the cremation garden, the board stressed the importance of its watering policy and encouraged visitors not to water plants inside the cemetery. Oakwood has its own watering system, which was turned on last month.
Members are Hoffer, Tatter, Dobbins and Bob Sandy. The next meeting is June 1.
