The information contained in this column is a report of the actions taken by the board members who were present during the open public session portion of the meeting only. It is not a transcript of the official board minutes or an official record of attendance. It does not address board member attendance or actions taken during the executive session that typically follows the open session and is closed to the public.
June 27, 2025
Members Present
Paul Desbiens, Chair; Debbie Santangelo, Vice Chair; Linda McGloin; Jeffrey Kasko; Rabbi Jay Kornsgold; Anthony Menafro.
Executive Staff Present
Quin Archer, Executive Director; Maria Rojas Letchford, Deputy Attorney General; Nicole Parelli, Regulatory Analyst.
Public
George R. Kelder Jr. and Samantha L. Link, New Jersey State Funeral Directors Association, and 18 other members of the public were present.
Approval of Meeting Minutes
The Board approved the minutes of the April 10, 2025 meeting.
Total number of complaints received in April/May: 9
Total number of complaints received in 2025: 23
Old Business
Ewing Cemetery Association (CA #020) – At the April meeting of the Board, the Board reviewed a request for guidance from Ewing Cemetery Association regarding the merger of two religious organization bulk-sale grave owners. The Board voted to request more information regarding the actual merger of the two synagogues to determine if it truly is a merger, a dissolution or a liquidation of one organization. The Board determined it was a merger, and the transfer took place on June 1, 2025.
New Business
West Amwell Cemetery Association (CA #0283): The cemetery trustees sent a letter to the Board stating that they are looking to retire and asked if the state will take over the cemetery. The board stated that no, they do not take over cemeteries and will send a letter advising the volunteers to hold a lot owners meeting to find new trustees. They also recommended that the trustees reach out to Judith Welshons of the New Jersey Cemetery Association for guidance on proper process.
Assembly Bill 5165: The bill would allocate $10 million annually for three years to DCA to alleviate backlog of pending applications and licensure renewals and require the board to file an annual report on the spending of the allocated funds. After discussion, the Board voted to support the bill.
Assembly Bill 5572: The bill would set a quorum standard for licensing boards that would require a quorum for approval of applications and sales. The Board voted to support this measure.
Assembly Bill 5624: The bill would require boards to create and maintain a data portal that would allow for public access to statistical data including license applications, complaints, processing times and other relevant data for transparency purposes. The Board voted in favor of supporting the bill.
Senate Bill 4406: The bill would change how data is gathered during the licensure process, further establishing whether an applicant owes child support. While there is already a question on the application regarding child support, this legislation would add a separate form to be completed by the applicant to determine if they are currently in arrears for child support payments.
Jeff Kasko stated that this was “highly personal information” and that he wasn’t comfortable supporting the measure until they knew how the data would be used or why it was being collected. Executive Director Quin Archer stated that the applicant owing child support wouldn’t necessarily preclude their application being approved and matters would be handled on a case-by-case basis with due process. A motion was made and passed to take a neutral position on this bill.
All bulk sales were moved to executive session for advice of counsel.
- Greenwood Cemetery Association (CA#028) to International Muslim Brotherhood Inc. (100 plots)
- Laurel Grove Cemetery (CA #030) to Mohammad Abdur Rauf and Rashel H. Jumed (20 plots)
- Laurel Grove Cemetery (CA #030) to Mohammad Abdue Rauf and Rashel H. Jumed (52 plots)
- Laurel Grove Cemetery (CA #030) to St. Nikola Macedonian Orthodox Church (54 plots)
- Restland Memorial Park t/d/b/a Eternal Sunset Memorial Park and Cemetery (CA #117) to Islamic Center Tewheed (114 plots)
- Restland Memorial Park t/d/b/a Eternal Sunset Memorial Park and Cemetery (CA #117) to Islamic Unity and Culture Center of Plav-Gusinnje Inc. (1,191 plots)
Public Comment
Steve Walrond of Union Cemetery in Lebanon was following up on a letter he had submitted to the board questioning what happens if volunteers can no longer afford to maintain and run a cemetery. He stated that several years ago he along with several others took over the cemetery that was not being run properly, stating that they had no maintenance and preservation fund and the cemetery was not being kept up. They have been unable to find new trustees and need to determine what to do with the records.
Chairman Desbiens stated that there are no set systems in place for this situation and recommended he speak with Judith Welshons, “guard the records with your life” and put up signs to garner interest in finding new trustees.
Jason Malatesta asked that the Board classify their reasoning for moving all the bulk sales discussions to executive session. Executive Director Archer indicated that they were moved so to obtain advice of counsel.
There being no further public business, the Board adjourned its public session until August 14, 2025 and entered executive session.