The municipality personally apologized to a local family and is reviewing its procedures after it damaged 10 gravesites at the Jasper Cemetery in mid-March.
Dennis Zaffino, a local Jasperite, was shocked to find his father’s gravesite—along with nine others—damaged by heavy machinery when he and his family visited the site on Easter Sunday.
According to the municipality, the damage was likely caused during a burial two weeks earlier, on March 12.
When the Fitzhugh visited the site, located at the east end of the cemetery, there was a well-worn path across 10 gravesites, with large ruts and torn up grass strewn about. Upon closer inspection, mud was also found on at least one headstone.
In response, Zaffino fired off a sharply worded letter addressed to Bruce Thompson, director of operations for the municipality, demanding answers.
In the letter, which was also sent to members of council and the Fitzhugh, he said the sight of the damage brought his mother to tears.
Upon receipt of the letter, Thompson visited the site himself and took full responsibility for the damage. He also personally apologized to the Zaffino family and promised the municipality would repair the damage.
“The condition of the cemetery this past week and the resulting letter from the Zaffino family does not reflect our standard of service for this municipal facility. This is a most regrettable situation and I have personally apologized to the Zaffino family for this upset,” wrote Thompson in an email.
“We are working to remediate the site and will remain in contact with the Zaffino family to ensure the monument is returned to its original pristine condition. The adjacent grass area will be restored when ground conditions allow.”
He also said the municipality is reviewing its procedures to ensure events like this don’t happen again.
“I’m satisfied with the outcome,” said Zaffino during a follow-up interview March 29.
“I just hope it doesn’t happen again. I hope nobody else has to experience that.”
Mayor Richard Ireland said it was “regrettable” what happened and sympathized with the Zaffino family.
“I’m as satisfied as I can be for now with the response to the member of the public, but I’m not sure I’m satisfied that I know how we got into this position in the first place,” said Ireland.
“Things shouldn’t be allowed to happen like that so we’ll have to ask some questions and find how that happened.”
Ireland said he would follow up with Mark Fercho, the municipality’s chief administrative officer, as well as with Thompson, to find out what happened and how it can be avoided in the future.
Paul Clarke
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