National Grid representatives appeared before the Woburn City Council on Jan. 7 seeking a grant of location to replace and extend gas mains on New Boston Street, but the council continued the public hearing after the superintendent of public works said work should wait until the city’s water, sewer and drainage construction is sufficiently advanced.

Diana Cutting, representing National Grid, said the company overlaid its proposed gas-main replacement on the city’s utility plans for a reconstruction tied to a new MBTA parking-lot project and a state Department of Transportation bridge project. Cutting said the DOT contractor may do trenching and utility installation for city water and sewer and that National Grid hoped to piggyback on that work so all utilities could be installed and paved as a single operation. Cutting also said a removal of an Eversource utility pole is needed to allow grading to continue.

Jay Duran, the superintendent of public works, said directly that he did not recommend the council issue the grant of location at this time because the city’s utilities and DOT work must be in place to ensure proper clearance and avoid conflicts. “If I hold up this grant of location, am I holding up the job? And he said, Absolutely not. I would prefer you do not issue the grant of location tonight,” Duran told the council, explaining his view that issuing the location before grading and city utility work is complete could jeopardize city infrastructure.

Council members asked detailed questions about phasing and discovered National Grid has contractual time constraints with the DOT that require the company to complete its portion within 23 days of a notice to proceed. The council and applicant agreed further coordination was required; the council opened the public hearing and, finding no public comment, voted to continue the matter to the Jan. 18 meeting on Feb. 18 to allow additional coordination and removal of the conflicting utility pole.

The public hearing was continued to the Feb. 18 council meeting.