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STATE OF MAINE

STATE BOARD OF FUNERAL SERVICE

 

Minutes of August 4, 2005 Board Meeting

 

Members Present:               Robert Barnes, Chair; Hervey Clay, Complaint Officer; Jennifer Minkowitz, Vice Chair; Normand Lambert, Ernest Marriner, John Dunn, Bethel Shields and Paul Fredette

 

Others Present:                   Penny Vaillancourt, Administrator; Jack Richards, Assistant Attorney General; Kevin Cookson, OLR Board Investigator and Diane Bradstreet, Board Clerk

 

Members Absent:                None

 

CALL TO ORDER

 

Robert Barnes, Chair, called the meeting to order at 9:00 a.m.

 

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

 

In a motion by Normand Lambert, seconded by Paul Fredette, the minutes from the July 12, 2005 meeting were unanimously approved as written.                                

 

INFORMAL CONFERENCE - COMPLAINT #FUN-266

 

The Board held an Informal Conference on Complaint #FUN-266.  Jennifer Minkowitz was Acting Chair during these proceedings.

 

After a review of the complaint information and discussion of the issues involved,  the board determined that the allegation of unprofessional conduct did not rise to the level of disciplinary action by the board.  In a motion by John Dunn, seconded by Normand Lambert, the Board voted to dismiss this complaint.  All in favor with Hervey Clay, Paul Fredette, and Bob Barnes  recused.  

 

DISCUSSION REGARDING APPRENTISHIP PROGRAMS

 

Gene Ellis, Director of the Maine State Apprenticeship and Training Council, Department of Labor, attended today’s meeting to discuss the practitioner traineeship with the Board.  Mr. Ellis provided the Board with copies of Appendix I:  Schedule of Work Experience which is currently being used by the council.  In order to complete a traineeship, all components of this Schedule of Work Experience must be completed by an individual in the apprenticeship program.  Mr. Ellis has requested the board’s review this document for any changes or updates needed. 

 


State Board of Funeral Service Minutes

August 4, 2005

Page 2

 

 

CORRESPONDENCE

 

Reviewed was the July 28, 2005 correspondence from Lawry Brothers Funeral Home with a request that the Board waive 1500 hours of training from the apprenticeship program of Omar Wheeler.  The correspondence states that in October 2003, through the funeral home’s error, they licensed Mr. Wheeler as an attendant rather than a trainee.  The funeral home, therefore; is requesting a waiver of 1500 hours of training from Mr. Wheeler’s apprenticeship program.  The Board did not approve this request and in discussion questioned whether Mr. Wheeler was allowed to work outside of an attendant’s scope of practice.    

 

In a motion by Jennifer Minkowitz, seconded by Bethel Shields, the Board voted unanimously to file a complaint against Mr. Wheeler’s supervisor for possible unlicensed practice.

 

DISCUSSION OF PROPOSED RULEMAKING

 

The Board members entered into a dialogue with Staff Attorney Jeff Frankel relating to insurance policy mortuary trust agreements.  Mr. Frankel will review this matter further and report back to the Board at its September meeting. 

 

APPROVAL OF JULY 12, 2005 CONTINUING EDUCATION PROGRAMS

 

In a motion by Normand Lambert, seconded by Hervey Clay, the Board voted unanimously to approve the list of continuing education programs as reviewed by the Continuing Education Committee at the July 12, 2005 meeting.

 

ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT – PENNY VAILLANCOURT

 

No report.

 

ADJOURN

 

There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 12:00 p.m.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

 

Diane J. Bradstreet

Board Clerk