KENILWORTH – There was a refund, but is it enough?
That is the concern raised by Joyce Huber after the township refunded pre-paid cemetery interment fees, with interest, dating back to 2005.
Huber visited council on March 11 to explain her concerns. Wellington North Mayor Andy Lennox said that since Joyce Huber wasat the meeting, council let her speak as a deputation.
The issue came about regarding the refunding of fees charged in error.
Huber said she was unsure how many of the current councillors were there in 2005.
“We bought our cemetery plot with two pre-paid interments. The lots plus interments cost $1,605,” she said.
“When my husband passed away in 2009, the interment was no problem.
“Now the government ordered a return of the $250 of my interment fee because of an error of council at the time.
The funds had not be placed in a separate trust, but rather as part of general revenues.
Huber contacted her bank manager and estimated the value of the $250 in council’s hands for 14 years had a value of about $640.
Huber contended a reimbursement of only the original fund makes council “a two-time winner” in that it is not paying the interment cost, and that it had use of her $250 for 14 years.
She agreed that while the present council is not responsible for what happened, Huber hoped council would consider her concern “and do what is fair.”
Huber said everyone she had spoken to did not consider this as fair.
Lennox noted council had not recieved information in advance of the meeting regarding the interest issue.
He said councillors will need time to understand the background and history before making a decision.
Councillor Steve McCabe asked if this situation could happen again.
Clerk Karren Wallace explained when Huber’s husband passed on, the burial fee was prepaid therefore no invoice was sent.
“What we discovered is that this should not have been collected from anybody – not just Mrs. Huber.
“We were directed by the Bereavement Authority of Ontario to return any remaining prepaid burial funds.”
Money was returned to Huber, and when the time comes for her to be interred her estate would be billed burial fees at that time.
Councillor Dan Yake asked if this was the only one.
Wallace estimated about 30 instances of prepaid interments were on record.
She added there were more, but over the years, as residents passed on, those prepaid internments were taken off the township books.
Wallace said the 30 cheques have all gone out – with interest.
Treasurer Adam McNab explained compound interest was provided based on Bank of Canada historical rates over the amount of time.
Wallace said cheques were sent out a week before that night’s meeting.
Accompanying letters explained that a mistake was made.
Huber was asked if she had recieved such a cheque.
“I have, but you are getting it back,” she said.
Lennox said he understood Huber’s objection is not the return of the funds, but rather the amount of interest owed.
Huber’s daughter contended the issue is not so much the interest, but the principle.
“They had pre-paid, so everything should be taken care of.”
The cost of interment today is much more than it was at the time when prepayment was made.
Lennox said council will get up to speed and let Huber know of its decision.
