HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 01071986 - 1.57 TO BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
FROM: Phil Batchelor, o l^^,,����.,,++
County Administrator Contra
DATE: December 11, 1985 Costa
Cnty
SUBJECT: Revision of Resolution No. 82/1150 in the Matte0001-icyou
for County interment
SPECIFIC REQUEST(S) OR RECOMMENDATION(S) a BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION
RECOMMENDED ACTION
It is recommended that the Board of Supervisors adopt the attached resolu-
tion which supersedes Resolution No. 82/1150 and all previous resolutions
in regards to the matter of policy for County interments.
BACKGROUND/REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATION
Under present County policy, four County departments: District Attorney-
Public Administrator, Health Services, Social Services, and the Sheriff-
Coroner are authorized to approve County payment for final disposition of
indigent remains. Under the present policy, the usual practices for the
four departments is to use ground burials for final interment.
The cost of funding the funeral and burial costs for indigents has been
increasing. In addition, reimbursement previously available through Social
Security benefits and Veterans' benefits have been restricted. The matter
of using cremation as the method for interment of indigent remains was
reviewed with the four departments listed above since other counties
throughout the State use cremation over ground burials in an effort to
contain costs. Within the past six months, San Joaquin County conducted a
survey of counties' indigent interment policies and 44 counties responded.
Of the total 44 counties, 14 provide burial only (this includes Contra
Costa County) , 7 provide a choice between cremations and ground burials,
and 23 provide cremation only. The majority of counties which provide for
ground burials only are the smaller counties where crematoriums are not
available.
This matter was reviewed with County Counsel and based upon County
Counsel' s opinion, the attached resolution was developed. It provides for
a choice between cremation or ground burial as the method of interment.
The particular method of interment may be determined by the relatives, or
in those instances where there are no surviving relatives, the specific
authorizing department would make this determination.
CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT: _ YES SIGNATURE• � lao
•
RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE
APPROVE OTHER
SIGNATURE S
ACTION OF BOARD ON APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED OTHER
VOTE OF SUPERVISORS
Y 2, I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A TRUE
J` UNANIMOUS (ABSENT ) AND CORRECT COPY OF AN ACTION TAKEN
AYES' NOES. AND ENTERED ON THE MINUTES OF THE BOARD
ABSENT: - A�B,S I N: OF SUPERVISORS ON THE DATE SHOWN,
Audttar �unocc: er
District Attorney-Public Administrator
Health Services ATTESTED �1111
-7Social Services PHIL BATCHELO , ERK OF THE BOARD OF
Sheriff-Coroner SUPERVISORS AND COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR
�.
M382/7-83 BY ,DEPUTY
Y
2.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Cremation is less costly than ground burial as a method of final interment.
It is anticipated that by providing cremation as an alternative to ground
burial, indigent interment costs can be contained.