David Duritsch Answers Email About Cemetery

This an email i sent to city manager asking about the cemetery, here are the answers I received

Judy,From: Randy Lewis [mailto:rlewis@xponex.com]
Sent: Thursday, October 22, 2009 10:22 AM
To: Gilleland, Judith
Subject: Randy Lewis/ MiddletownUSA.com


I have a question about the Pioneer cemetery, can you tell why the plants and shrubs were removed, and who made this decision along with who went out and did the work? Are there any plans to remove more in the future? I appreciate your time, I do hope you can explain this to me. If you have any questions please feel free to call me.

Thank you,

Randy Lewis
Xponex media
email: rlewis@xponex.com
phone: (513) 422-1907 ext.357

From: Gilleland, Judith
Sent: Thursday, October 22, 2009 1:57 PM
To: 'rlewis@xponex.com'
Cc: Duritsch, David J Jr
Subject: RE:Randy Lewis/ MiddletownUSA.com

Hi Randy, I’m sending on to Dave Duritsch for his reply, this is in his department, thanks for asking!  Judy


Mon 10/26/2009 2:31 PM
From:Duritsch, David J Jr" <daved@cityofmiddletown.org>
To: Gilleland, Judith, rlewis@xponex.com
"Gilleland, Judith" <judyg@cityofmiddletown.org>, rlewis@xponex.com
Subject    RE: Randy Lewis/ MiddletownUSA.com

Randy,

The shrubs were removed as part of the fall clean up of various planting beds around town.  Grounds Maintenance typically uses this time of year to remove annual planting beds, deadhead, and generally prepare landscaping beds for winter.  In the case of the cemetery, the planting beds have not been maintained since this summer when Ms. Moon informed the City that she would no longer provide this service.  These landscape beds were agreed to by the City with the understanding that they would be maintained by the Middletown Cemetery Committee.  This was set up because the City could not commit its limited resources to maintaining the new beds.

Ms. Moon was informed of the City’s plan to remove some of the beds when she called staff during the summer to inquire about removing some of her personal plantings since she was no longer working in the cemetery.  Staff was okay with her request and indicated that she could remove the plant material she wanted out of the newer beds.

Grounds Maintenance removed shrubs from four small beds planted by Ms. Moon, leaving any trees and/or bulbs that were there; and removed the older City bed at the location of the previous cemetery sign.  Two other new beds along the fence were kept.  Some of the plant material that was not dead or dying was transplanted to other locations in the City.  There are no plans to remove anything else.

The cemetery hours were originally posted for dusk when the Police Division was able to close the gates.  This time has been adjusted to allow for Public Works personnel to lock the gates during normal working hours.

Dave Duritsch

ALL BS from the City.  Good Grief!!!!!!

Mon 10/26/2009 2:31 PM
From:Duritsch, David J Jr" <daved@cityofmiddletown.org>
To: Gilleland, Judith, rlewis@xponex.com
"Gilleland, Judith" <judyg@cityofmiddletown.org>, rlewis@xponex.com
Subject    RE: Randy Lewis/ MiddletownUSA.com

Randy,

The shrubs were removed as part of the fall clean up of various planting beds around town.  Grounds Maintenance typically uses this time of year to remove annual planting beds, deadhead, and generally prepare landscaping beds for winter.
Dave, sorry to hear that you are having automobile problems because I'm sure you would have driven through the cemetery before you posted this response on the blog.
Your staff did not deadhead plants and we didn't have any annuals. They simply raped the Middletown Cemetery 
In the case of the cemetery, the planting beds have not been maintained since this summer when Ms. Moon informed the City that she would no longer provide this service.
Dave you really need to get your facts straight. You were informed in February that we would not be maintaining or funding the Middletown Cemetery in 2009 and Judy requested that I not work in the cemetery in June 2009.
These landscape beds were agreed to by the City with the understanding that they would be maintained by the Middletown Cemetery Committee. This was set up because the City could not commit its limited resources to maintaining the new beds.
Well Dave I'm looking forward to seeing this document also. All designs and locations were approved by the Ginger Smith of the City.
Ms. Moon was informed of the City’s plan to remove some of the beds when she called staff during the summer to inquire about removing some of her personal plantings since she was no longer working in the cemetery.Staff was okay with her request and indicated that she could remove the plant material she wanted out of the newer beds.
Dave, each time your staff tells this story it changes. These plants were paid for by donation from family members. You stole over $4,700 worth of plants from the Middletown Cemetery without our knowledge or permission.  
Grounds Maintenance removed shrubs from four small beds planted by Ms. Moon,
Dave, you must really have a problem communicating with your staff or they are not being truthful. They removed two large 25' circle beds, one larje 25' triangle bed and two small beds in front of the vault. Then they stole 10 plants from the Doty Plot.
leaving any trees and/or bulbs that were there;
Dave, again this is another untruthful statement. They stole 500 iris from the cemetery. If in fact they did leave any other bulbs in the ground they will soon be dead. Ya see Dave your plant expert planted grass seed in all the beds and I don't believe the mowing crews will have time to string trim around each and every bulb when they start coming up in the spring...OOOPS!
....and then we have the problem of your staff breaking the flood light fixtures in front of the vault while removing the plants and beds...OOOPS!
and removed the older City bed at the location of the previous cemetery sign. 
Thank goodness we finally have a truthful statement .
Two other new beds along the fence were kept. 
The Denny Fence Line was planted in 2006
The Richmond Street Fence Line was planted in 2008 and some of the plants were replanted in June 2009. (Hmmm I thought I was informed they were removing beds) 
Some of the plant material that was not dead or dying was transplanted to other locations in the City. 
Dave all the plants at the Middletown Cemetery were alive and well when your staff walked into the cemetery. The plants were donated to the Middletown Cemetery not other parts of the city. You stole our plants.
There are no plans to remove anything else.
Sorry Dave we don't have many plants left for you to steal
The cemetery hours were originally posted for dusk when the Police Division was able to close the gates. This time has been adjusted to allow for Public Works personnel to lock the gates during normal working hours.
Gosh Dave you're wrong again. The police have never locked the gates in the 6 years that I have been working at the cemetery...Guess again...
I will make sure I put your home phone number on speed dial and post it on my web page so the families can call you when they visit from out of town...
You stole the Perpetual Care Fund
You stole the Middletown Cemetery Fund
And then you stole the Beauty and Plants from the Middletown Cemetery.
Dave Duritsch