The former church building, that was demolished, is a 0.7-acre lot that some want converted to a ball field.
WARE — After being asked to buy it, the town of Ware will offer the Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield $100,000 to purchase the land that was once Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish at 45 Pleasant St.
Selectmen unanimously voted Tuesday to make the offer following a public hearing.
There are two contiguous parcels.
The former church building that was demolished sat on a 0.7-acre lot. Some want that converted to a ball field. An adjacent paved parking area has been used by the town as a municipal lot for many years.
Site of the former Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish in Ware that is fenced off. Some want the 0.7 acre parcel converted to a ball field Selectmen said if the diocese rejects the $100,000 offer, the town's counter-offer would be $35,000 solely for the parking lot.
In another matter, the town will explore the potential installation of natural gas lines.
Currently, residents must use bottled gas.
According to town manager Stuart Beckley, Ware’s town planner, Karen Cullen, said a $1,000 state grant is available to assess the matter and to provide technical assistance.
Board members recalled that the town used to have gas lines.
Chairman Greg Harder said he is flummoxed that when the new line was placed in neighboring Palmer, it was not extended to Ware.
The gas feed “ended at the town line,” he said.
In other business, selectmen are seeking people to serve on a yet-to-be-formed Ware Sewer Study Committee.
The volunteer panel would review the pros and cons of hooking up as many as 10 streets to the municipal wastewater treatment system.
At a cost of about $1 million per street for each hook-in, there has been little will to expand the sewer service, town officials say, but they hope the ad-hoc committee will bring forth new ideas.