Public Meeting Notice  Board of Registration in Embalming and Funeral Directing Meeting - 8.4.26

Join: Microsoft Teams Meeting Link

Meeting ID: 284 990 385 850 37

Passcode: 2FZ7dV9a

Need help? | System reference

Dial in by phone

+1 857-327-9245,,277927198# United States, Boston

Find a local number

Phone conference ID: 277 927 198#

In accordance with the provisions of G.L. c. 30A § 20, notice is hereby given that the Board of Registration of Embalming and Funeral Directing will be convening their monthly meeting. 

If you need reasonable accommodation to participate in the meeting, please reach out to Cheryl Yebba at 617- 701-8711. The Agency will make best efforts to accommodate requests received in a timely manner.

In accordance with the provisions of G.L. c. 30A § 20, the Board of Registration in Embalming and Funeral Directing convened a regular monthly meeting on: 

August 4, 2026, in a hybrid format

The topics shown below were discussed at the aforementioned meeting: 10:02 A.M. the Chair, Paul Phaneuf, called the open meeting to order. 

Informational note: All votes were taken by roll call. Where each member voted in favor, the vote will be reported as unanimous.

Board members present: 

• Paul Phaneuf, Chair
• Richard Gormley  
• Rebecca Ridley
• Yesenia Aguilera (Virtual)
• Janet Leombruno, Public Member (Virtual)

Board members absent: 

• None

DOL Staff present: 

• James Curley, Executive Director 
• John Hill, Board Administrative Staff
• Mike Ryan, Licensing Administrator 
• Peter Kelley, Board Counsel
• Colleen Maloney, Associate Deputy Commissioner (Left at 11:05 AM)
• Sarah Wilkinson, Commissioner (Left at 10:55 AM)

1. Welcome and Swearing in of New Applicants
   1. Funeral Home Assistant Applicants
      1. William Baker
      2. Randolph Hildack
      3. Joseph Smith
      4. Joshua Velez
   2. Embalming Apprentice Applicants
      1. Amanda Bohart
      2. Lorry Oliver
      3. Kareena Khan
   3. Swearing in of Funeral Director Type 6 Applicants
      1. Alycia Spargo
2. Executive Director Report:
   1. Associate Deputy Commissioner, Colleen Maloney, spoke about the new licensing platform, Elipse. This was created to streamline licensing to make it faster and easier to join the professions that the agency licenses. A delay in issuing licenses occurs due to the swearing in of applicants. Embalmer Apprentices and Funeral Assistants meet all the requirements of licensure without having to be sworn in. Waiting to be sworn in delays their ability to practice. Type 6s do have in their regulations an attestation to the oath that is currently read to applicants. The agency is looking to the Board for approval to have the oath be an attestation when they apply for initial licensure within Elipse.
      1. Rebecca Ridley made a motion, and it was seconded by Richard Gormley, and the members present by majority VOTED: to accept a written attestation as a sufficient oath in swearing in Type 6 licensees.
      2. Motion Passed – Roll Call:

1. Associate Deputy Commissioner gave details of Elipse and the linking of licenses. Email notifications are sent for renewal reminders rather than paper coupons. Licenses are no longer mailed out. They will be accessed through Elipse. Use your full name that appears on your license in order for the system to recognize you and be able to successfully link your license. Upload all applicable CEUs for Embalmer Apprentices and Funeral Assistants.
   1. CEU Approvals
2. Rebecca Ridley made a motion, and it was seconded by Richard Gormley, and the members present by a majority VOTED: to accept the CEU Approvals as presented for July and August
3. Motion Passed – Roll Call:

3. Board Counsel Report:
   1. Nothing to report
4. Discussed out of state Embalmings counting towards MA Embalming Requirement. The Embalmer Apprentice and Funeral Director to be licensed in MA as well as state where the embalming is taking place.
   1. Rebecca Ridley made a motion, and it was seconded by Yesenia Aguilera, and the members present by majority VOTED: to allow out of state embalmings to count towards MA embalming requirement
   2. Motion Passed – Roll Call:

5. ReviewedJuly 7, 2026, public meeting minutes.
   1. Richard Gormley made a motion, and it was seconded by Rebecca Ridley, and the members present by majority VOTED: to accept the minutes as written
   2. Motion Passed – Roll Call:

6. Discussedother matters not reasonably anticipated 48 hours in advance of the meeting.  No matters presented.
7. Investigative Conference (M.G.L. c. 112, § 65C – Closed session)
   1. At 11:06 A.M. Rebecca Ridley made a motion, and it was seconded by Janet Leombruno, and the members presented by majority VOTED: to exit Public Session and enter Closed Investigative Conference under M.G.L. c. 112, s 65C.
   2. Motion Passed – Roll Call:

8. Discussion of complaints prior to the issuance of an order to show cause: 

9. Adjournment – the next meeting is scheduled for September 1, 2026, at 10:00 A.M.
   1. Rebecca Ridley made a motion, and it was seconded by Richard Gormley and the members present unanimously,
   2. VOTED: to exit closed session, enter open session, thereupon to adjourn the meeting at 11:51 A.M.

Items relied upon during the open meeting

• Agenda for August 4, 2026 Board Meeting
• Minutes from July 7, 2026 Board Meeting
• Documents used for July CEUs Approvals
• Documents used for August CEUs Approvals
• Tentative License Report

It is anticipated that the topics shown below will be discussed at the aforementioned meeting:

1. Executive Director Report
   1. Swearing-ins
   2. eLIPSE Update
   3. CEU Approvals
2. Swearing-in of Funeral Assistants
3. Swearing-in of Embalmer Apprentices
4. Swearing-in of Type 6 Funeral Directors
5. Board Counsel Report
6. CT Embalmings counting towards MA Embalming Requirement
7. ReviewMinutes of the following meetings: 
   1. July 7, 2026 meeting minutes
8. Discuss matters not reasonably anticipated by the chair, 48 hours in advance of the meeting
9. Executive Session (M.G.L. c. 30A, §21(a)(1))
   1. To discuss individuals’ character, rather than competence
10. Closed session (M.G.L. c. 112, § 65C –Investigative conferences and settlement conferences)
    1. Discuss complaints prior to the issuance of an order to show cause
    2. Discuss terms of a negotiated settlement of complaint case:

Adjournment – the next scheduled meeting is September 1, 2026