OWNERS OF CEMETERY ASKED TO REOPEN PART TIME CITY WOULD COVER LIABILITY COSTS FOR ONE DAY A WEEK AT GRAND VIEW MEMORIAL.

Byline: EUGENE TONG and JASON KANDEL Staff Writers

GLENDALE -- City officials are asking the owners of the shuttered Grand View Memorial Park to reopen the cemetery part-time, with City Hall assuming liability.

Officials have been negotiating with operator Moshe Goldsman for several weeks to unlock the 121-year-old cemetery's iron gates, which have been chained since June after the facility's owner was accused of financial mismanagement and mishandling remains and came under state investigation.

The proposal would permit the cemetery at 1341 Glenwood Road to open once a week -- possibly Sundays, said Senior Assistant City Attorney Mike Grant. The city will extend insurance coverage over the 25-acre facility during visiting hours and staff the grounds with park rangers.

``We're just waiting for a commitment,'' Grant said.

David Baum, an attorney representing Goldsman, said Monday his client is willing to work with the city.

``We're optimistic that in the near future, we can open the park for limited visiting hours,'' he said.

The city plans to raise the issue Thursday at a civil suit hearing between the cemetery's owners and some 25 plaintiffs with loved ones interred there. Paul Ayers, an attorney representing lead plaintiff Mary Louise Largey, said a reopening is overdue.

``In light of the city's offer, there's no excuse for the operators to continue to keep it closed,'' he said.

Both Goldsman and cemetery owner Marsha Howard must agree to the proposal. Howard, who could not be reached for comment, allegedly resold already-purchased graves and illegally disposed of human remains, according to the state Department of Consumer Affairs.

Though criminal charges against her were dropped, she is due for an administrative court hearing Aug. 21 to determine if her business license will be revoked.

Even if the parties reach a deal, a partial opening is likely temporary since the cemetery's unkept grounds and browning lawns could eventually become a fire hazard, Grant said. A permanent solution means finding a buyer for the cemetery, though that could be difficult amid the legal problems.

Still, Harvey Wise is hoping he will get to visit his wife's grave Aug. 26 -- their 61st wedding anniversary. She was buried there in 2003 after she died at 82 from an inoperable brain tumor.

``I'll go over, take some clippers, clean up the headstone and stuff, and take flowers,'' said Wise, 86, of Arleta, who plans take flowers from a rose and orchid garden inherited from his wife. ``I'll do a little bit of talking to her, tell her about what's going on with the family.''

eugene.tong(at)dailynews.com

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