Many families of the deceased were outraged because they were not told of the decision to relocate their loved ones until after the fact.
"It was an emergency situation," maintains Dispenza. "When engineers told me that the section is unstable, unsafe and unsecure, emergency disinterments began." Families are now being notified of the relocation of grave sites.
Could this happen again, at another section of the cemetery? "The profound power of nature anywhere in the world is unpredictable," said Dispenza. "I will not say that this can't happen at any other cemetery in Western New York or around the country, but the actions we're taking is preventing any type of danger to those buried in this section. The rest of the cemetery remains totally secure," he said.
Dispenza said graves are being disintered one at a time and immediately reintered in the St. James East section.
Is there anything Dispenza wishes he could have done differently? "No," he said. "I take my job very seriously. I'm also a father and husband and a son of late parents. I understand and I appreciate and respect the people who are upset. I would be too. But I hope that some day some will understand my obligation is first and foremost the protection of their beloved dead. When professionals tell me what is happening here is not only unstable and unpredictable, my job is to deploy all of our assets, human and capital, and protect these loved ones."
Is he worried about the state investigating the situation? "Absolutely not," said Dispenza. "I welcome them and applaud them". Very few states have a regulatory agency over cemeteries. Dispenza said the State Division of Cemeteries help and oversight is not only prudent but also extremely valuable.
