Pa. town: Family needs to mark land as grave site

BERNVILLE, Pa. (AP) — A Pennsylvania township says a couple that buried their 10-month-old son on their property must designate the land as a grave site so future owners know about the burial.

The Colebrookdale Township commissioners say the Dodson family needs a zoning variance in case they move but want to come back and visit. The commissioners say the burial constitutes a zoning violation that could result in daily fines.

James Dodson tells the Reading Eagle he could not afford to buy a burial plot for his son, Jesse. Dodson says the congenital liver condition that killed his son left the family with more than $30,000 in medical bills.

Dodson says he also can’t afford the $650 zoning application fee.

Board president Todd Gamler says he believes the issue will be resolved.