Two Boothbay roads are slated for maintenance this summer. The Boothbay selectmen approved Town Manager Dan Bryer’s road repair priority list, which includes Butler and Back Narrows this summer and Industrial Park in the spring.

The selectmen approved the list compiled by Bryer and Public Works Director Mike Alley during the June 22 board meeting. All three roads need significant improvement, according to town officials.

Bryer characterized all three roads as being top priorities, but the selectmen want special attention paid to Butler Road. Selectman Steve Lewis believes the hill located on the road’s second section needs considerable work. He previously spoke to Alley about the troublesome road. Alley recommended digging out the rocks on Butler Road’s hill to properly fix the trouble spot.

“If all you do is hot top it, then come spring, you’ll be right back where we are now,” Lewis said. “It makes more sense to fix it right the first time even if we have to put off some of the work on Back Narrows.”

Once the Butler Road work is complete, the Back Narrows repairs will begin, according to Bryer.

Industrial Park Road has needed worked for nearly a decade, according to town officials. Two weeks ago, resident Mike Tomacelli complained aboutthe road’s condition. He said, “The potholes could bend a car’s wheel.”

The road is located within the town’s Tax Increment Finance (TIF) District. Bryer believes those funds can be used for the road’s maintenance. The project won’t begin until spring because voters must first approve the expenditure.

In other news, Bryer is seeking Maine Department of Transportation funds for creating a Park and Ride. The selectmen authorized Bryer to begin negotiating a memorandum of agreement with the DOT. According to Bryer, the state provides up to $30,000 for paving and signage. The agreement requires that the town commit to maintaining the Park and Ride for 10 years.

Lewis congratulated Bryer for finding state funding for a potential local project.

“Kudos to you for finding $30,000,” he said. “I think we’d be foolish not to do this. My thinking is where can we sign up, but I know we must wait for voter approval.”

If the town works out an agreement with the DOT, the proposal is likely to be on the November referendum ballot.

Bryer also updated the selectmen on his negotiations with local businessman Erik Carlson, who is seeking preferential tax treatment as a TIF district member. Carlson begins his wood pellet manufacturing operation on July 1 at his newly built Industrial Park plant. He has already received state certification as a Pine Tree Zone. The state provides tax incentives to new businesses for creating good-paying jobs.

Carlson plans on hiring one to three new employees making an average of $41,000 per year with benefits in the next four years.

Now he is seeking a tax enhancement agreement with the town as a TIF district business. The town has entered previous agreements with Hodgdon Yachts and Washburn & Doughty. The town negotiated to return 75 percent of the enhanced value of the two shipyards’ expansion projects.

The board directed Bryer to continue negotiations with Carlson and return a draft agreement for their review.

Lewis described the proposed deal as benefiting everybody.

“He is still paying the taxes on the original property so we’re not losing anything. I see this as a good deal for the taxpayers and him,” he said.

The selectmen also reappointed Dale Harmon as chairman and Douglas Burnham as vice chairman for another year.

The selectmen will meet next at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, July 13 in the municipal building.