Sharon will spend $10,000 on .24 acres where a significant town water pipe runs through -- without an official easement or right-of-way.

Some voters questioned the spending before Tuesday night's 56-25 vote at the annual town meeting, held in the Sharon High School auditorium.

Some residents suggested Sharon legally can keep the pipe there because neither the former owner, the late Nicholas Diesso, nor his heirs have challenged it during the many years the family has owned the land, off East Foxboro Street and near Sharon Well 6.

But, Town Counsel Richard Gelerman said this legal avenue is "a wonderful issue that lawyers welcome."

"If we have that, then why do we have to buy the land?" one woman replied.

Selectman William Heitin said Sharon's legal fees in such a case could exceed the $10,000 the Diesso heirs want for the site.

Public Works Superintendent Eric Hooper said the owners are "looking to, essentially, get the property off their hands."

Moving the pipe would cost about $30,000, the finance committee wrote in the annual town meeting warrant. The land was appraised at $8,000.