Funeral director loses bid for chapel
UPPER TYRONE TWP. – A Scottdale funeral director lost his bid to operate a memorial chapel in the Brownfield Community Center. Rob Ferguson told the supervisors Tuesday that if they didn’t give him a yes or no answer on a proposed sub-lease agreement agreed upon by the community center board of directors, his attorney would ask the Fayette County court for a declaratory judgement and let the judges decide the matter.
Supervisorchairman Ernie Walters said he received an unsigned letter from “concerned citizens” commending the supervisors for not taking a stand on the issue last month and telling the supervisors that people in the community don’t want “dead bodies” shown in the community center.
Supervisor Luke Knapp said he’s not opposed to the idea of a memorial chapel but he is opposed to the idea that a dead body would be displayed in the center. “I’ve talked to at least 35 people who don’t want this,” said Knapp.
Ferguson pointed out that a memorial service was held in the community center in 1999, however Jackson Hill resident Bill Keffer point out that there was no body. “That was a memorial service only,” said Keffer.
Ferguson admitted that he couldn’t understand the supervisors’ reasoning saying, “You’re not afraid of the living but of the dead. I don’t understand that. But then I’ve been around the dead all my life.”
Ferguson took over the Ferguson Funeral Home in Scottdale after his father retired.
Last month, community center board president Robert Acklin walked out of the township meeting after the supervisors refused to make a decision on the matter. Acklin said that the board agreed to sub-lease a room to Ferguson and told the supervisors that either the board of directors were going to be in charge or the supervisors were.
Walters, Knapp and supervisor Don Keffer all voted no on the memorial chapel.
Ferguson said he and his attorney would now have to evaluate the situation.
The supervisors did agree, however, that memorial services and after funeral dinners could still be held at the community center.
In other matters the supervisors passed an ordinance that will restrict public fireworks displays. Solicitor Richard Husband said the ordinance requires that an application for a permit be made to the supervisors at least 30 days in advance of a fireworks display and establishes an application fee of $50.
In addition the ordinance establishes penalties for violations and a fine not to exceed $1,000. The ordinance takes effect in five days.
The supervisors also set clean up day for May 13. Knapp reminded residents that refrigerators, air conditioners, antifreeze, tires, paint and tar bucks will not be removed.