By ALENA HIGGINS
CEMETERY costs across the Southern Downs will be re-examined after a grieving family voiced their displeasure at receiving an overtime bill.
Deputy mayor Ross Bartley raised the issue during general business at last month’s council meeting, saying he was approached by the late Des Cooper’s family who were shocked to be slapped an extra $220 when the funeral ran overtime.
An emphatic Cr Bartley said the Coopers should not be penalised for the fact that their prominent father, a former councillor of some 29 years, had a large contingent of mourners at the church service.
“They got (to the cemetery) late and it’s pretty hard to stop people milling around the grave site when they may not have seen certain relatives for 50 years,” Cr Bartley said.
“People say their g’days and their goodbyes and to get an overtime bill when you’re coming to terms with a death is just rubbing salt into the wound.”
He called on council to donate the overtime costs back to the family, but the resolution was lost five votes to four.
Councillors Ingram and Meiklejohn said while they sympathised with the family and supported the refund in principle, it could set a dangerous precedent as 11 families had received similar bills since the start of the year.
“I know other people who have paid the charge,” Cr Ingram said.
However, Cr Mackenzie said receiving a bill for a deceased person after the fact was “highly inappropriate”.
“This is part of our core business and it is extremely sensitive,” he said.
“We should be bending over backwards to get it right.”
Arguing aginst a two-part charge, Cr Vic Pennisi suggested the whole of council’s cemetery operations required a “holistic” review.
“It used to be that you could only put fresh flowers (at a grave site) and now people are putting stubbies, boots,” he said.
Acting CEO David Tuxford welcomed the review, saying the current costs had been in place for five years and suggested council might be found to be subsidising them.
Council resolved to consult with stakeholders as part of a review comparing the cemetery fees and billing, staffing levels, rosters and management practices in adjoining local authorities and within the former Warwick and Stanthorpe shires.
Cr Bartley, who in a last-ditch attempt left his hat at the doorway for councillors to donate their own money to the cause, said on Monday he “was at ease” with the outcome.
“We got well over the $200 and some of the councillors who voted against the motion donated as well,” he said.
The Coopers, who were happy that the matter was brought to council’s attention, donated the funds to Blue Care.
