FARMINGTON — In a second attempt to resolve a request to terminate a 99-year lease for a parking area on Front Street, Selectmen decided Tuesday to research more options while making a refund on taxes paid on the property since 2001.

Greg Roux, a former owner of Farmington Construction Inc. and the Front Street lot, leased the lot to the town 16 years ago for $1 a year. He now wants to make it clear to the board “that I no longer feel comfortable being in this lease.”

Last month, Roux asked the board to consider terminating the lease based on its terms not being met. Farmington Construction was charged real estate property taxes, although, according to lease terms, there wouldn’t be any, which in his opinion, breaks the lease.

“It was never the town’s intent to violate the terms of the lease,” said Town Manager Richard Davis, explaining a break in communication over the years. The town does maintain the lot per the agreement with $1,300 spent annually on plowing, sweeping, striping parking spaces and other maintenance.

According to town legal counsel, the lease is valid, he said about research done since the board tabled the discussion at the last meeting.

Roux told the board, he was “disappointed with the apparent lack of concern for this issue,” and that while he was looking for a fair solution for all parties, “I really did not receive any sense that a fair solution was of any concern.”

He told the board he was open to creating a one-year renewable lease and giving the town first refusal on the purchase of the property if he chose to sell.

While the Downtown Business Association supported the town keeping the parking available, it also wanted to be fair to the owner, Davis said.

Several business and apartment owners spoke to the board Tuesday voicing the need for free overnight parking.

“The 20-space lot has been full every night,” said Selectman Dennis Pike, who has regularly visited the area since the last meeting.

Ron Gelinas told the board there are two apartments above his business, Maine Stone Jewelry on Broadway, and no overnight parking available. Without the Front Street lot, he couldn’t rent out the apartments, he said.

A loss of some parking spots at The Better Living Center, located next to the lot, has already affected customers, said Russ Richards as he urged the board to maintain the lease but to make a fair resolution with Roux.

Suggesting the town consider negotiating a price to purchase the property over a five- to 10-year period, John Moore of Narrow Gauge Cinema also endorsed a fair resolution.

Fairness in the short term relates to the refund of taxes paid, $961, but acquisition of the property would have to come before a town vote, Chair Stephan Bunker said.

“The property would cost more now than 16-years ago,” Roux said, “but less than 16 years from now. I’m flexible on a lot of things but not a 100-year lease.”

Board members were not ready to agree the lease was not valid but instead wanted to explore options including asking an appraiser to determine a fair price.

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