NORWAY – Selectmen agreed Thursday night that the town should accept part ownership of the 10.5 acres on Pike’s Hill that was once planned for a technology park.

The offer was made in an April 29 letter from Marcy Boughter, development manger for the Growth Council of Oxford Hills to the Board of Selectmen through Town Manager David Holt. It could be a way to get back some of the $20,000 that Norway originally put into the failed project.

“Accepting the property is better than the uncertainty of not accepting the property,” said Holt in recommending that the board accept the offer.

Six towns, including Norway, originally invested varying amounts of money in the proposed park that was first pitched in 1997 and was finally abandoned last year. Other towns investing were Otisfield, Paris, Oxford, Waterford and Harrison. The Growth Council also received $2.6 million in grants from the federal Economic Development Administration to develop the site in hopes of attracting businesses to the area.

Boughter and John Shattuck of the Growth Council approached the town in April 2007 to see if the town would be interested in purchasing the land. Norway said no then, and the land failed to entice any buyers since.

Boughter said the Growth Council is now offering the towns initially investing in the project the opportunity to be “gifted” the land in the form of a tenant-in-common deed in proportion to each town’s investment. If the property is sold, each town would receive a small monetary portion to be placed against their initial investment, Boughter explained.

“I think it’s important that the town keep a little control,” agreed Selectman Les Flanders, who made a motion that the board accept the gift.

Although there are legal questions that still must be answered, the board agreed that keeping some control over the land in Norway and is important to both the welfare of both Pennesseewassee Lake and the Western Foothills Land Trust.

Officials said it is believed that each of the towns who participated in the technology park project have received the same letter and will act on the same request before any final decisions are made.