991.03
GENERAL REGULATIONS
(a) Lots are sold only for use of the family, their relatives and
their descendants unless special permission is obtained from the
SERVICE DIRECTOR
(b) Where there are two or more persons interested as owners of
a lot, no dividing lines within the same shall be recognized; all
owners shall have equal rights of interment.
(c) No sale, transfer or assignment of any lot, or part of a lot
shall be valid or recognized without the written consent of the
SERVICE DIRECTOR and the payment of the fee specified
in Section 991.14, and on file in the office of the Director
of Finance.
(d) When a lot owner dies intestate or without having designated
by reservation filed in the office of the SERVICE DIRECTOR
the names of the persons to be interred on such owner's lot, the
heirs are recognized according to the laws of Ohio.
(e) All grave openings shall be done by the employees
of the cemetery or an excavating company designated by the City
for this specific purpose.
(f) Tents, artificial grass, matting, lowering devices and other
equipment controlled by either the Rittman Municipal Cemeteries
or a contractor designated by the City shall be used in making interments,
disinterment and removals.
(g) All grave service charges are payable in advance in accordance
with Section 991.14.
a.
No funerals are allowed on Sunday or general holidays as
observed by the City of Rittman are allowed except as
may be required by law or to conform to regulations of the Health
Department.
b. Wooden vaults or outer boxes are forbidden.
(j)
Grave surfaces shall be kept level with the surrounding terrain
as it is difficult to mow or to make grass grow upon a mound.
A smooth sward is more pleasing and mounds are no longer necessary
to mark gravesites, as an exact record of their location is
kept by the cemetery.
(k) If a tree or shrub on a lot becomes detrimental, dangerous
or inconvenient to adjacent lots or walks or if it becomes unsightly,
the SERVICE DIRECTOR shall have the right to
remove such tree or shrub or any portion thereof. Any planting
made in violation of the rule may be removed without notice.
It is advisable to make the necessary arrangements at the cemetery
before planting material is purchased.
(I) No turf may be removed for a flower bed or other purpose
without first obtaining the sexton’s permission.
(m) No fence, hedge, enclosure or curb of any kind shall be
allowed on burial lots.
(n) Glassware, cans, crockery, boxes, baskets, shells, watering
pots or similar items left on graves or lots are detrimental
to the appearance of the cemetery and shall be removed.
(o) All cemetery waste and debris should be deposited in receptacles
designated for such use.
(p) Persons wishing to make improvements of any kind on their
own or other lots must first consult the sexton.
(q) April 1-May 1 No flowers or ornaments should be on gravesites
–everything must be removed as this is our clean up and
weed spray time. Eternal Lights or flames may remain on sites
during this period.
November 1 – All flowers and containers must be removed.
December 1- April 1 Wreaths and ornaments only can be placed
on the pot base of a grave.
(r) The City shall use reasonable care in engaging competent
and experienced cemetery employees and/or contractors and in
seeing that they do their work in customary carefulness. The
City disclaims any responsibility or liability for accident
or damage to headstones, vases, monuments or mausoleums resulting
from the ordinary hazards of cemetery work; or to persons or
property due to defective machinery, implements, tools or equipment
used in cemetery work.
(s) Metal/ bronze flag holders may be placed on graves when
permitted by the Service Director. Such emblem
shall be removed when deemed advisable by the Service
Director.
(t) Any person in the cemetery, including funeral directors,
shall be under the control and subject to the direction of the
Service Director.
991.04 PREMISES REGULATIONS.
(a) No person shall wound, kill or capture any kind of bird or animal,
or remove the young of any animal or the eggs of any bird within
the limits of the cemetery under penalty of the law.
(b) Visitors are prohibited from plucking any plants, whether cultivated
or wild, unnecessarily disturbing the birds or animals, breaking
or injuring any tree or shrub, marring any monument or landmark
or in any way defacing cemetery grounds, fences or buildings thereon.
(c) Sitting or standing upon monuments is not permitted.
(d) No advertising of any form shall be permitted within cemetery.
(e) No dogs are allowed inside the cemetery.
(f) No person shall discharge firearms within the cemetery except
for military funerals or Memorial Day exercises.
(g) The cemetery grounds are closed to everyone except cemetery
employees and other authorized persons, during the hours of darkness.
Violators of this provision are subject to arrest and prosecution.
(h) Any person acting in a boisterous or loud manner, or in any
way improper to the sanctity of the grounds, may be expelled by
the Service Director or his designee.
(i) All persons are reminded that the grounds are sacredly devoted
to the burial of the dead, and that the provisions and penalties
of the law shall be strictly enforced to keep it thus.
991.05 FLORAL DECORATIONS, VASES, URNS AND MEMORIAL LIGHTS
(a) Permanent urns may be placed in the cemetery by obtaining permission
of the Service Director. All urns must be placed on a pot base.
One pot base per monument.
(b) Hanging baskets shall be suspended from a single shepherd hook,
made of steel, per family lot. Only one floral planting per family
lot shall be permitted. (No other decorations may be attached to
the hook
(c) No tripods or pipe frames may be erected 10 days after the burial.
(d) In order to maintain a neat appearance throughout the cemetery,
the Service Director may remove the plantings from
any urn or basket which becomes unsightly through lack of care.
(e) Potted plants shall be permitted to remain on graves until the
blossoms are dead, at which time they shall be promptly removed.
f. Cut flowers may be placed on any grave. All withered and faded
cut flowers shall be removed when lots are mowed
g. Funeral designs and floral pieces shall be removed from the graves
when they become wilted or unsightly. Persons desiring to retain
any must remove the same within forty-eight hours after the interment.
In no case shall employees attempt to locate designs or floral pieces
after their removal from a lot and the cemetery committee shall
not be responsible for anything of this nature.
h. All floral baskets, designs and wreaths shall be removed when
they become unsightly.
i. “ETERNAL”/”MEMORIAL” LIGHTS Or Candles
The use of the “eternal” or “memorial” type
lights is discouraged. However, if a family wishes to place this
type of decorative light, the location should first be discussed
with the Cemetery Sexton to try to mitigate maintenance issues.
Only those of the solar or battery operated styles may be allowed.
No more than one such light will be allowed per family plot. The
City is not responsible for such lights. If a light becomes a maintenance
issue for the Cemetery Department staff, it may be moved or removed.
A light will be removed if it becomes broken, non-functioning or
exceeds the number allowed.
No mechanical devices or decorations allowed.
Statues allowed only on pot base or at the edge of the monument
base. Height not to exceed 54 inches or allowed to exceed the monument
height.
991.06 MARKERS AND MONUMENTS.
(a) No grave markers (flush mounted) or monuments (above ground
mounted) may be erected or placed in the cemetery unless specifications,
plans and location have been first submitted to and been approved
by the Service Director. In the event the Service
Director disapproves of the specifications, plans, or location,
the applicant may, within in ten days, submit a written appeal to
the Cemetery Commission. The Commission shall have
a hearing and render a decision within twenty days of receipt of
the appeal. In no case shall more than one monument be allowed on
one grave space, except for flush foot markers.
(b) To insure permanency, all foundations shall be built by employees
of the cemetery at the expense of the grave owners.
(c) The Service Director shall have authority to
inspect the setting of any monument or marker, and if improperly
done, order the resetting of same.
(d) After a monument or marker has been placed in the cemetery,
it may not be removed without permission of the Service
Director.
991.07 INTERMENTS.
(a) The number of interments which may be properly made on a grave
space is definitely fixed at the time of purchase, and no more shall
be permitted. In order that uniformity may be sustained, the Service
Director or his designee shall determine the location of
graves on a lot.
(b). Only one body shall be allowed in a grave with the exception
of the veterans section. A Cremains or infant burial over an adult's
grave may be permitted, provided that the adult burial is of sufficient
depth and in a permanent vault and approved by the Service Director..
Four allowed per grave site.
(c) Interments on Sunday or general holidays as observed by the
City of Rittman are not permitted, except when ordered by the Board
of Health. No interment may be made unless the body is accompanied
by a burial permit, (usually procured by the Funeral Director).
Cremains may not be scattered on the ground. They must be buried
by an employee of the cemetery.
(d) Funerals shall not be permitted to enter the cemetery later
than 3:00 p.m. on weekdays and 1:00 p.m. on Saturdays, except by
permission by the Service Director.
(e) The SERVICE DIRECTOR shall be contacted before
setting the time of any funeral to avoid conflict with another funeral.
Notice of not less than 24 hours shall be given for the opening
of a grave. All funeral processions, while within the cemetery grounds
shall be under the direction and control of the SERVICE
DIRECTOR.
(f) Interment charges are due and payable when the order is given
and includes opening and closing of the grave.
991.08 DISINTERMENTS.
(a) Disinterments shall be made upon court order, or permission
to make disinterments not ordered by the court shall be given upon
written order of the lot owner or surviving wife or husband, or
children, if of legal age; or parents of the deceased (in the order
stated); provided, however, that such disinterments is not made
for profit or other reasons considered improper by cemetery authorities.
(b) No disinterment shall be made until all State regulations and
rules of the local health authorities have been complied with.
(c) If the relocation of the remains of a deceased person is deemed
advisable by SERVICE DIRECTOR, such relocation
may be made by the SERVICE DIRECTOR upon court
order or upon written permission given by the nearest surviving
relative, or except as hereinafter provided.
991.09 LOTS AND RELOCATIONS.
(a) The purchase of lots shall be arranged through the SERVICE
DIRECTOR or his designee who shall show
the lots which are for sale.
(b) When a section of the cemetery has been platted and prepared
for sale, the price of lots shall be fixed by City Council. No lots
shall be sold unless such lots are properly endowed for perpetual
care.
(c) The deed to a lot conveys only burial rights and the title to
the land remains with the city.
(d) In general all lot sales are for cash and the bill is payable
at the time of purchase to the Director of Finance. Lots will only
be reserved for a period of 30 days without payment. No monument
or marker may be placed on a site until plot is fully paid.
(e) Interment in a lot shall be permitted for the owner of the lot
named as the grantee in the deed, and for his immediate family and
heirs, and for such other person or persons as may be designated
in writing to the SERVICE DIRECTOR by the lot owner
during his lifetime. However, the burial of any person other than
the lot owner or his immediate family and heirs may be refused,
notwithstanding the written designation of the lot owner, if the
lot owner accepts or agrees to accept any compensation of payment
for granting the right to such burial. Upon the death of judicially-declared
incompetent lot owner, it is the duty of any person or persons having
the right of burial upon the lot under the terms of the deed thereto
and the cemetery rules to file with the SERVICE DIRECTOR
proof of their right to the use of the lot, and further burials
upon the lot may not be permitted until such proof is presented.
(f) As the deed to a lot conveys only the right of burial, the City
retains control and supervision of all lots which have been sold
and the SERVICE DIRECTOR shall enter upon lot and
prohibit, modify or remove any structure, object, adornment or improvement
on such lot which may have been placed in violation of cemetery
rules or which may be considered, in the SERVICE DIRECTOR's judgement,
to be objectionable or injurious to the lot or adjoining lots, or
to the general appearance of the cemetery.
991.12 ORDINARY CARE.
The ordinary care of the Rittman Municipal Cemeteries shall consist
of all necessary mowing, planting and care of all trees, hedges
and bushes of general benefit to the cemetery the disposal of leaves,
the construction and maintenance of walks and drives, filling and
sodding of settled graves and the embellishment or care of the cemetery
grounds generally.
991.13 TRAFFIC RULES; ADDITIONAL ENFORCMENT AUTHORITY OF
SUPERINTENDENT
Motor vehicles or other vehicles may be operated in the cemetery
at a speed not greater than fifteen miles per hour and such vehicles
shall at all times be operated with due care. All vehicles may be
operated and parked upon the driveways only, except cemetery equipment
necessary for carrying on the work of the employees of the cemetery.
The SERVICE DIRECTOR shall have the power to enforce
all rules and regulations adopted by Council, and to exclude from
the property of Rittman Municipal Cemeteries any person or persons
violating the same. The SERVICE DIRECTOR shall
have charge of grounds, buildings and at all times shall have supervision
and control of all persons in the cemetery, including the conduct
of funerals, traffic, employees, plot owners and visitors.
991.14 CHARGES AND FEES.
(a) Classification of Lots. All lots in Rittman Municipal
shall be so designated on the cemetery maps on file in the office
of the Cemetery Clerk or Sexton, and shall be priced
at the rates indicated in the schedule of lot prices listed below.
The deed to a lot conveys only burial rights and perpetual care,
as outlined in Sections 991.10 and
(b)Residents and Nonresidents. Since the city is obligated
to pay from the General Fund all costs involved in the operation
and maintenance of the cemetery over and above the income derived
from the sale of lots, burials, the Cemetery Maintenance and Operations
Fund, the Special Lot Endowment Fund, gifts and bequeaths and since
nonresident of the City do not necessarily contribute to the General
Fund by way of taxes, a distinction is made in charges and fees
for the lots and services rendered between residents and nonresidents
of the City.
(c) Operating and Maintenance Fund and Endowment Fund. The
charges and fees, as indicated in the schedule below, shall be divided
into two distinct funds, namely, Operating and Maintenance Fund
and Cemetery Endowment Fund.
(1)
The Operating and Maintenance Fund money shall be placed in the
General Fund of the City from which the current costs of operating
and maintaining the cemetery are drawn.
(2) The Cemetery Endowment Fund money shall be placed in a permanent
care of Rittman Municipal Cemeteries and used for Capital Improvement
Expenditures.
(d) Endowment Fund. The amount of money that shall be accepted
by the City by agreement, gift, devise, bequeath or otherwise to
hold as a permanent fund, the interest or income only therefrom
to be used for perpetual care of specified lots, as outlined in
Section 991.11, shall be not less than five hundred dollars ($500.00).
(e) Transfer of Title. Lot owners are permitted to sell,
transfer or assign their interest in such lots with the consent
of the SERVICE DIRECTOR and upon the payment of
the fee specified in the schedule of charges and fees in this section
and which is also on file in the office of the Director of Finance.
(g) Lot Fees per Grave.
Classes & Types of Operating Perpetual
Lots Residents Nonresidents
Resident Adult $350.00
Non Resident $450.00
Resident Babyland $125.00
Non Resident Babyland $150.00
Soldiers Circle (if available) City and Milton Twp Residents only
– No Charge
(h)
Interment Fees.
Interment Residents or Nonresidents Operating Fund
Adults, including tents for Service $400
Infant, in babyland, including tent for service $100
Infant in babyland $75.00
Ashes- Resident $100.00
Ashes – Non resident $150.00
Foundation per square inch $.40
.
991.99
PENALTY
Whoever violates any provision of this chapter shall be fined not
more than one hundred dollars ($100.00). A separate offense shall
be deemed committed each day during or on which a violation occurs
or continues. |
Council Minutes