Town Of Dudley Considering Buying Land Islamic Society Wants For Cemetery

DUDLEY (CBS) -- The town of Dudley may decide to buy a plot of farmland that has become the center of a dispute after the Islamic Society of Greater Worcester announced their intent to purchase it for a proposed cemetery.

Controversy has raged since February, when neighbors learned that the owner of 55 acres of little-used farmland was considering a sale to the Islamic Society. Residents have raised issues regarding burial rights, property values, and traffic on the country road leading to the property--and say they have endured charges of Islamophobia.

In April, Islamic Society attorney Jason Talerman said of the opposition, "Unfortunately…bigotry has reared it's ugly head."

Dudley Town Administrator Greg Balukonis says that officials have been looking for a solution, but that citizens' concerns had nothing to do with religion.

"Unfortunately the whole religion aspect has been drawn into it," said Balukonis. "But the people in Dudley are good people. They have a right to express concerns about a project that may impact them directly."

The question of whether or not the town should buy the property will come before Town Meeting on May 23.

"The town is simply exercising its rights under a provision of state law that gives the town the right of first refusal," said Balukonis. "The town could very well say no. Certainly the town would not discourage the Islamic Society from pursuing their permits for a cemetery."

If members decide it's worth the $200,000-$300,000 the town would have to borrow, the issue will be on the ballot by September.

WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Lana Jones reports