Annual Meeting June 23, 2026
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Annual Meeting of Lot Owners
Island Cemetery
Newport, Rhode Island
June 23, 2026
1. Call to Order
Welcome and opening remarks
Introduction of Trustees, staff, and guests
Moment of silence in honor of Pam Kelley
2. Proof of Notice
Confirmation that notice of the Annual Meeting was duly provided in accordance with the By-Laws
3. Approval of Minutes
Approval of the minutes from the June 17, 2025 Annual Meeting of Lot Owners
4.Election of Trustees
Presentation of nominees
Election of Trustees as required by the By-Laws
5. Financial Report
Overview of Investment Accounts – Jeff Gordon
EOY 2025 P&L
EOY 2025 Balance Sheet Comparison
Lot and Burial Sales 2020-June 2026
Investments 2017-Q1_2026
6. Executive Director's Report
7. Adjournment
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ISLAND CEMETERY
ANNUAL MEETING MINUTES
JUNE 17, 2025
ATTENDEES: Sharon Hussey, Island Cemetery Administrator Director
Betsey Oestreich, Island Cemetery Admin Assistant
Officers Members of the Board
Pam Kelley Barbara Benson
Frank Ray(Zoom) Harry Eudenbach
Kevin Kelley Dan Titus
Bruce Smith(Zoom)
Lisa Lewis
Owners
George & Elizabeth Clark(Zoom) Karen von Kunes
Ed Orlinski (Zoom) Robin Warren
Andy Snider (Zoom) Christopher Pell
Abigail Campbell King (Zoom) Lewis Keen
Linda Joslin (Zoom)
The meeting was called to order at 3:09 p.m. by President, Pam Kelley, at the Newport Public Library with 18 lot owners present in person or on Zoom. The reading of the minutes from the last meeting was waived, and on motion, unanimously approved.
Financials. Sharon Hussey provided a Statement of Activity comparing calendar years 2023 & 2024 and Statement of Cash Flows. Increased Product Revenue sales was the difference between 2023 and 2024, allowing us to take less from the endowment. The increase in operations costs is mainly due to 2 year renewals of annual software licenses. Payroll increase is because of hiring grounds manager. Professional fees included expenses for an engineering analysis of drainage in the cemetery by DiPrete Engineering. Overall for year-end 2024, we had a net of $20,948 as opposed to a negative in 2023 of -$37,570.
In terms of the budget versus actual Y-T-D, 2025, the actual bottom line of -$10,948 is compared to the budget -$32,842 as we were conservative in developing the budget.
The next financial report is the investment accounts at Slocum and Gordon (S&G). Account 6550, presently at $1,256,591 is the account we draw from for operations and 0321, at $554,176 is the restricted account for perpetual care. We are putting away 20% of lot sales so the perpetual care fund has increased but we’re presently drawing at a rate of 7.7% on the total account of $1,812,79, as opposed to the goal of 5%. As part of the solution, we will increase our rates for lot sales.
The Belmont Chapel fund had $311,000 as of the end of 2024, but additional bills were paid since then. The remaining funds were moved to a third S&G account which brings the total invested with S&G to above $2M, which lowers the overall management fees. We were hoping to end up with $500K in the endowment fund but fell short of our goal due to increased restoration costs.
Considering the trend towards cremations, and the availability of the unused carriageways for development, it seems we will have available inventory for 15 to 20 years for in-ground burials. But we should increase the prices as the cemetery as is the only active burial space in Newport. Presently, we move 20% of every sale into the restricted account at S&G. We could increase the percentage we set aside to 25% which would also augment the perpetual care fund. Additionally we will get income from the Belmont Chapel and cemetery events that can add to this fund.
At the Belmont Stakes Annual Fund Raiser on June 7th, in addition to an on-line and live auction, we had a paddle raise specifically to restore the Belmont exedra also designed by Richard Morris Hunt. The estimate is $89K; we have raised $13,500 with a matching fund up to $30K for a total of $43,500 to date. We will send out a request to our mailing list as well.
President’s Report. Pam Kelley, President, reported that the Belmont Chapel restoration is completed, and we have received three awards for the restoration from Preserve Rhode Island, the Newport Restoration Foundation and the Victorian Society of America.
Belmont Chapel Events. We now use the Belmont Chapel for a variety of events; including our first wedding, several funerals, music concerts and a couple of civic organizations meetings. Currently, we have an art exhibit. It was questioned what we charge for the use of the Chapel; for memorial funeral services, we have charged $250 for 2 hr minimum, civic groups, $200, ticketed music events, $400 to $800, lectures, $15 and weddings and social events, $1,000 min.
Restoration of Monuments. The Norman lot is currently being restored thanks to substantial donations from the Prince family. It has the Archangel Michael on top of a pillar (the tallest monument in the cemetery). The Alfred Smith lot has the St. Gaudin sculpture and beautiful angel monument which two donors have supported with new plantings in the lot and two magnolia trees nearby. The Vernon lot on Warner Street has had stones reset and cleaned. The Kane lot has a stone wall around it that's falling down. We've made appeals to descendents and to the Coaching Club to restore the Kane lot, as Delancey Kane was the father of coaching. This is all part of what we call our special projects. The website has a link to these special projects.
Dogs in the Cemetery. The compliance of leashed dogs in the cemetery has improved, although there are some people who ignore the signs and requests. While not 100%, but it has improved greatly. We now close the cemetery gates from five at night till nine in the morning which has controlled late-night cars on the grounds. Although we are fairly unique for an historic cemetery in allowing dogs, it does bring life to the area.
It is a city problem, and the city needs to address it.
Fencing. In the event we decide to totally lock the cemetery, we will reinstall the fencing between God’s Little Acre and the Island Cemetery. The city and Island Cemetery will share some of the expense contributing $9,000 each with a donor giving an additional $18,000 to fund the project using upgraded commercial-grade aluminum fencing.
Grounds
Since we have been designated as an arboretum, we are trying to plant more and more trees. We have twelve new trees planted along Vicksburg Place from the Tree Conservancy and have a plan to plant seven cherry trees around the circle where we hope to develop a cremation burial space around the Travers Circle. In the spring we will request one or two trees for the Friends Cemetery.
Trustee Re-Appointment. Barbara Benson, Lisa Lewis and Harry Eudenbach were re-elected by unanimous vote for a three year term. Reelection of Board Members: Proposed officers were voted on and approved, they are Pam Kelley, President; Kevin Kelley, Vice President; Frank Ray, Treasurer; and Barbara Benson, Secretary.
New business
The restoration of the Administration building and the garage, which was actually a stable, are on hold, pending a planning grant request to the van Beuren Foundation. If we receive the grant, we will retain an architect to draw up plans for the buildings and help us configure the space, also taking into consideration the surrounding cemeteries. This idea came from the planning session we had last year with all the cemeteries in the area. We call it the Cemetery District, but the Island Cemetery is the only one that is private with staff. The others are maintained by the city or the Catholic Diocese. The overall goal would be to have a website that directs people to the different cemeteries and offers visitor assistance. We will need ADA compliant bathroom and the stable needs plumbing, electricity, and heat and the admin building badly needs upgrading. With the architect’s plans we can get quotes for the work and launch a capital campaign.
The meeting was adjourned at 4:45 p.m.
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Island Cemetery Annual Report to the Board of Trustees
Annual Meeting – June 23, 2026
A Year of Stewardship, Preservation, and Progress
As we gather for our Annual Meeting, we reflect on a year marked by meaningful accomplishments, renewed partnerships, and significant progress toward ensuring the long-term sustainability of Island Cemetery and Belmont Chapel. Our mission remains unchanged: to preserve and enhance this historic landscape while serving families, honoring those entrusted to our care, and connecting our community to Newport's rich heritage.
The past year has demonstrated the dedication of our staff, trustees, volunteers, donors, and community partners. Together, we have advanced restoration projects, expanded public engagement, strengthened organizational governance, and positioned Island Cemetery to play a leadership role in the preservation of Newport's historic cemeteries.
Grounds and Preservation
Island Cemetery continues to uphold its reputation as one of Newport's most significant historic landscapes and an accredited arboretum.
During the year, our grounds staff managed routine maintenance, burials, monument preservation, tree care, and landscape improvements while responding to storm damage and other unforeseen challenges.
Notable accomplishments included:
Completion of the major restoration of the historic Norman family lot.
Advancement of restoration planning for the Delancey Astor Kane family burial enclosure.
Continued planning for the restoration of the Richard Morris Hunt-designed Exedra at Belmont/Perry Circle.
Ongoing assessment and management of specimen trees and landscape assets as part of our accredited arboretum program.
Partnership with the Newport Tree Conservancy and local landscape professionals to improve the health and sustainability of our urban forest.
Continued implementation of best practices in horticulture, erosion control, and water stewardship.
These projects preserve not only monuments and structures but also the historic character of the cemetery as a nineteenth-century garden cemetery.
Facilities and Infrastructure
The Cemetery's historic buildings remain a priority for future investment.
During the year, necessary electrical improvements were completed to address critical deficiencies within the Administration Building and ensure safe operations. Planning continues for future restoration and renovation of both the Administration Building and Maintenance Facility.
Belmont Chapel continues to serve as a focal point for community engagement, educational programming, memorial services, weddings, and special events.
Cemetery District Initiative
Perhaps the most transformative development of the year has been the advancement of the Newport Cemetery District initiative.
Building upon the collaborative workshop sponsored by the van Beuren Charitable Foundation, Island Cemetery has continued to work with neighboring historic cemeteries to develop a shared vision for preservation, operations, records management, and public access.
In January, Island Cemetery received funding support from the van Beuren Charitable Foundation to begin development of a comprehensive master plan for the seven contiguous historic cemeteries that form one of Newport's most significant cultural landscapes.
The project seeks to:
Develop coordinated preservation strategies.
Improve public accessibility and interpretation.
Create unified mapping and records standards.
Enhance operational efficiencies.
Strengthen long-term sustainability across participating cemeteries.
This initiative positions Island Cemetery as a leader in cemetery preservation and collaborative stewardship.
Development and Fundraising
Fundraising efforts during the year focused on supporting preservation projects, educational programming, and operational sustainability.
The Friends of Belmont Chapel continued to serve as an important fundraising partner through events, sponsorships, and community outreach.
Highlights include:
Strong sponsorship support for the 2026 Belmont Stakes Race Day Gala.
Increased ticket sales and community participation in fundraising events.
Continued cultivation of donors interested in supporting legacy lot preservation and capital projects.
Expansion of sponsorship opportunities for educational programming and lecture series initiatives.
Continuing awards from EJMP for operational support and van Beuren Charitable Foundation for planning support
These efforts provide essential resources for preserving the cemetery's historic assets while expanding community engagement.
Public Programs and Community Engagement
Island Cemetery continues to evolve as both a place of remembrance and a cultural resource.
Throughout the year, we hosted:
Educational lectures and presentations.
Memorial events and commemorative programs.
Guided tours highlighting cemetery history and notable residents.
Community volunteer initiatives, including annual grounds clean-up efforts.
Special events at Belmont Chapel and throughout the cemetery grounds.
These programs strengthen public appreciation for the cemetery's historical, architectural, and environmental significance.
Governance and Organizational Development
The Board of Trustees undertook several initiatives to strengthen governance and organizational effectiveness.
Accomplishments included:
Establishment and refinement of committee structures.
Development of a Board Governance Plan.
Advancement of strategic planning efforts.
Continued succession planning discussions.
Increased committee engagement and reporting processes.
These efforts have improved accountability, strengthened oversight, and positioned the organization for future growth.
Looking Ahead
As we enter the coming year, several priorities will guide our work:
Preservation Priorities
Restoration of the Kane family enclosure wall.
Restoration planning and fundraising for the Richard Morris Hunt Exedra.
Continued legacy lot preservation initiatives.
Continued preservation of the Belmont Chapel restoration.
Expansion of arboretum and landscape stewardship efforts.
Facilities Priorities
Administration Building restoration planning.
Maintenance Facility improvements.
Infrastructure assessment and capital planning.
Strategic Priorities
Implementation of the Newport Cemetery District Master Plan.
Expansion of records integration and public access initiatives.
Continued strengthening of governance and development programs.
Growth of public programming and educational outreach.
Gratitude
None of this work would be possible without the commitment and generosity of our trustees, staff, volunteers, lot owners, donors, sponsors, and community partners.
Together, we continue to honor the generations entrusted to our care while ensuring that Island Cemetery remains a place of beauty, remembrance, education, and inspiration for future generations.
Respectfully submitted,
Sharon Hussey
Executive Director
Island Cemetery & Friends of Belmont ChapelJune 23, 2026
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Jeff Gordon to present overview of securities
Sharon Hussey and Debbie Arnold to present:
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Barbara Benson and Harry Eudenbach to present
Presentation of nominees and election of President
Election of Trustees as required by the By-Laws
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