FARMINGTON – The University of Maine at Farmington is interested in a joint purchase of a controversial parking lot on Front Street, the university’s interim vice president of administration, Ryan Low, told selectmen Tuesday.

 In a unanimous vote, selectmen agreed to put the proposal of purchase and sale agreement for the third of an acre lot before the voters at the March town meeting.

 The town has been leasing the lot, which is next to the Better Living Center,  for $1 a year and has made it available for overnight parking. Since last year, property owner Greg Roux has been trying to break the 99-year agreement that includes an easement for the university to reach Prescott Field.

 Roux contends the lease with the town is flawed and would not stand up in court. To avoid a legal battle, he has offered to sell the land to the town for $85,000. Selectmen in April rejected the offer.

 On Tuesday, selectmen and Low wouldn’t go along with Roux’s latest request that a purchase and sale agreement be signed by Nov. 1 and a short term lease be signed until the deal is closed. The details of the offer were laid out in an Aug. 27 letter from Roux’s attorney, Margot Joly, that was sent to Town Manager Richard Davis and the University of Maine System’s counsel, Nina Lavoie.

 Joly said that under the new lease, the town and the university would relinquish any interest in the property under the agreement recorded at the Franklin County Registry of Deeds.

 “We wouldn’t support terminating the existing lease while we waited” for approval, Low said.

 Roux said there were other parties interested in purchasing the parking lot if town turned down his proposal.

 He mentioned John Moore, owner of the Narrow Gauge Cinema next door; Richard and Marge Griswold, who own the Granary Restaurant a block away; and Ron Gelinas, owner of the Mainestone on Broadway. Both the Griswolds and Gelinas own rental properties and their tenants use the Front Street lot for overnight parking.

 “My interest is keeping it a parking lot and selling it,” Roux said.

 “If the town is truly interested in buying it, I can’t put it on hold for a year before something is finalized,” he said.

 Selectmen balked at Roux’s deadline and demand for a short-term lease and said the town could go to court and have a judge decide if the existing lease was binding.

 The original document was never ratified by voters as required by law and was only approved by selectmen. The town’s attorney said it is still valid; Roux contends it won’t stand up in court.

 Selectman Drew Hufnagel said there is a lease in place until a judge determines otherwise.

 “Why would the town spend $42,500 for land we already have a lease on?” he said. “The town shouldn’t be looking into a purchase. Times are tough and we could still have use of it for the next 80 years.”

Selectman Jon Bubier said buying the land if the town doesn’t need to is a waste of taxpayer dollars.

 “Let’s litigate it,” Bubier challenged. “If we lose, (Roux) can let UMF buy it, or the landlords. Why should we re-write a lease that we already have?”

 “I support putting this on the March town meeting warrant,” he said. “I would not support writing a new lease.”

 Roux said he would discuss the town’s offer with Joly before making any decision.