Ware Select Board Promotes Two Officers, Clears Brewery to Open Downtown

Select Board · Meeting of February 17, 2026

Ware Select Board unanimously promotes two police officers and approves a full license package for a new downtown brewery. The board elevated Patrick St. Pierre and Derek Ames to permanent sergeant at the Ware Police Department, following a December assessment that prompted two outside evaluators to contact the department with praise for candidate quality.

Licenses including a Farmer Series Pouring Permit, entertainment, auto amusement, and common victualer were approved for Fieldcrest Brewing Company at 11 East Main Street, with owner Adam Field targeting a March opening for the company's second location. Board member Ken Willett, joining via Zoom, called fire department staffing "a critical item for the town right now" after a Pleasant Street three-alarm fire saw the first apparatus staffed entirely by off-duty members, and the board agreed to invite the fire chief to a future meeting. Town Manager Stuart reported that Fannie Mae, the foreclosing lender on the collapsed Pleasant Street property, attended a meeting Monday and agreed to cover demolition and site cleanup costs.

Resource Waste delivered its annual $15,000 community contribution, with the board to solicit input on its use.

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Source: the Select Board meeting of February 17, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.