Already frustrated with the construction on Public Square, some Watertown lawmakers want the contractor to work exclusively at night, a request that likely will raise the price of the already $6.6 million project.
Villager Construction, the Fairport-based contractor hired to complete the project, is blocking employees and customers from businesses along the south side of Public Square, Myron C. Kehoe told the City Council on Monday night.
Mr. Kehoe owns the building at Factory Street and Public Square. Last week, he said, crews blocked foot traffic from entering the Subway restaurant in the building during lunch hour.
"You talk with them and they're somewhat accommodating," he said. "There has to be a way we can work this out."
City Engineer Kurt M. Hauk said the contractor will close off areas they think will be worked on for that day. If workers close too small of an area, then parked cars will block areas that need to be reached. If too large of an area is closed, it blocks parking to Public Square businesses.
The contractor might now be asked to work after 5 p.m., when traffic ebbs and the sun is still up.
"There still seems to be a tremendous amount of work that needs to be done," Mayor Jeffrey E. Graham said. "From five until nine, that's four hours of daylight with nothing going on."
Councilman Jeffrey M. Smith said he would support the proposal.
If the city forces Villager to work at odd hours, the contractor will make the city pay for the differences in employees' salaries, Mr. Hauk said.
"It is possible to work at night," he said. "But we will then have to pay for the shift differential."
Night work will disturb people who live on upper floors around Public Square, City Manager Mary M. Corriveau said.
Until the council makes a decision, the contractor will continue to work days.
"It's hard to tell a downtown business that they might not have business that day because perhaps there's going to be construction there," Councilwoman Roxanne M. Burns said.
The council instructed staff to do more outreach to downtown businesses to keep them informed about the work.
