The Bryan Chapel Cemetery Board met before a packed house Saturday to discuss cemetery conditions and financial irregularities.

Board member Jimmy Tramel said the board began looking into the cemetery’s finances after Memorial Day.

Several people complained about the condition of the cemetery and asked why it wasn’t kept in better condition when money had been donated for upkeep.

“After this last Memorial Day we had a meeting,” said Tramel. “We thought the conditions of the cemetery weren’t very good and they weren’t. We all knew they weren’t.”

“We asked for the records,” which came in shoe boxes, he said. When records were inspected and a financial summary made, approximately $34,978.01 of “irregularities” were discovered.

Tramel said he wasn’t going to mention names “because I don’t think it’s proper.” He said the board spoke to the person who handled the records and finances about the irregularities, and she couldn’t answer questions as to what happened to the money.

The board sought the advice of an attorney, who recommended the board settle with the person responsible instead of taking her to court.

Tramel said the cost to hire an attorney to go into litigation would have taken all the finances of the cemetery board.

“When it was all said and done with the bank and everything, we mediated or settled for $20,000,” Tramel said. “We felt it was in our best interest to take the $20,000 and make changes and go forward. And that’s what we did ... We don’t want the cemetery to be in the shape it was in the last Memorial Day. We don’t want that to happen. We want people to be proud of this cemetery because it’s local ... It’s pride. It’s pride to you or you wouldn’t be here.”

Tramel asked if the audience had any questions and warned the board wasn’t going to get into any names because he didn’t want to “drag someone’s name through the mud or anything else. We just need to go forward.”

Although the board was hesitant to name the person who made the settlement, minutes from an August meeting stated the board accepted a $20,000 cashier’s check “on behalf of Doris Rae Turner ... to accept this payment in full and final settlement of money due arising from financial irregularities.”

Audience member Don Thompson asked what justification the board could give for releasing the perpetrator from criminal charges.

Tramel said his understanding is the person who settled will never be released from criminal liability, but the board settled as a civil matter with her.

Thompson said since the board settled, the cemetery can’t collect any more money. “I don’t see where you get your authority to have made that kind of settlement,” Thompson said.

Tramel said he spoke with legal counsel on behalf of the board and they followed the advice to mediate and settle.

“So you’re saying she got away with almost $20,000?,” Jason Turner asked.

Board member Gayle Fox explained cash payments were made to cemetery workers on several occasions. “The records were not good records, not clear records,” she said. Fox said she went through the books and calculated checks which were made for cash and “of that amount there were monies paid out for the cemetery, so this was just what checks were written for cash. It was really hard for us to determine ... an exact amount.”

Fox spoke up in defense of Turner. “I know a lot of people are having bad feelings about Doris and I know there were some things done that were wrong, but I, just like a lot of the rest of you, set back for years and let her sit out here, her and Jeff mostly, even since I’ve been on the board, set out here for four days in the heat by themselves taking donations ... That’s why we’ve got the sign up sheets. We are volunteers, but this cemetery means as much to you all as it does to us, so we are just asking for your help as well ... We all set back and let her sit out here and work every year and so I just appreciate what she did for all the years that she did it.”

“I volunteered many times to help Doris and she thanked me kindly and told me she did not need my help,” said Jane Cowan.

“Well, that’s changed,” said Tramel. “There’s sign up sheets from now on.”

Ollie Starr asked the board why the condition of the cemetery wasn’t noticed before Memorial Day, but never received a response. She said when she attended a burial recently, the weeds were up to her knees and when the new grave was opened, her mother’s casket could be seen in the grave beside it. “We were very upset,” she said.

“You will find when they dig they’re going to dig right next to another box. They have hit boxes and that’s because there has not been any formal layout of plans,” said Tramel. “What we do when someone wants to be buried we got a stick. All we have is a stick and a guesstiment and we do the best we can ... because of the way it’s laid out. It’s so tight.”

Cowan asked the board what happens to the grave sites she reserved in 2000. Cowan said when her mother died, she met with Turner and reserved several grave sites for her immediate family.

“I have noticed that there has been a grave already dug on top of ours,” Cowan said. “My husband and I have our names out there. We have our rocks out there. Every time I come over, our names are gone. I find them, I put them back, and the next time I’m over here it’s all over again. How do I ensure my grave sites are there? My husband and I are elderly. I want to be sure they’re there when the time comes.”

Tramel said mapping the cemetery should help, but in the meantime, he recommended buying gravestones and putting them up “because that’s the only true way.”

“But I’m superstitious, I don’t want my stone in the graveyard,” said Cowan. She said she’ll put something else up, but wants to know if she still has her grave sites reserved. Cowan said when she asked Turner about the identifying rocks, she was told the rocks are knocked over during mowing.

“As far as I know, yes,” said Tramel. “You need to make sure your names are on there. I cannot guarantee unless your names are on there because I don’t know you ... Once we get the mapping system in place, that will help us.”

Leonard Casey said he uses stepping stones to mark his plots, which are flat and do not obstruct mowers. “Our stepping stones are still there and we put our name on them, so I suggest you go down and buy a stepping stone.”

Betsy Callison Hoffmeier said she attended the meeting to see the cemetery move forward in a positive manner. “I want to know what the rules are and I want to do the right thing, I just need to know who’s the right person to talk to,” she said.

Board member Stephanie Cox stood up and said she volunteers because her family is buried in the cemetery. She said the board recently approved a groundskeeping policy to help run the cemetery. “I have not a clue who any of you are, most of you, and where your families are, and the places that you have reserved,” she said. “That’s why we want to map, so that your spaces will be reserved. We can’t set out here 24 hours a day and guard your rocks. Who’s removing them, I don’t have a clue who would come out here and remove them, but that’s why we want to map.” She said the board hopes to have the mapping done by Memorial Day.

She said the board needs the community’s help. Several dates are scheduled for cleaning the cemetery in 2009. The board approved the last Saturday of the month from March through September in 2009. Sign up sheets are available for cleanup dates and Memorial Day volunteers. “We’re going to need some hard workers,” she said. “If you can use a broom, you can sure come out and help us ... Any other suggestions helpful at all would be appreciated.”

The discussion returned to the settlement shortly before the meeting adjourned. Hoffmeier asked, “In light of criminal activity, has the board considered that it might be appropriate for everybody to resign and hold elections and if everybody is okay with you being on the board, then be re-elected.”

“That’s great with us,” said Tramel. “We’ll resign tonight. We can let you have it. We don’t care. If you want it, you can have it”

“I’m certainly willing to resign right now,” said Fox.

“It’s not just coming up here on the first and third,” said Tramel. “If somebody wants to take over, we’ll all be glad to resign and give you all your money right now and go on down the road.”

“I’d be glad to resign if somebody wants my spot,” said board member Bob Pierce.

“But I don’t think that’s what you want, because I don’t think you understand,” said Tramel. “If you all want to vote on it for our resignations, we’ll let you do that.”

With a silent audience and no one coming forward, the board motioned to adjourn.