Danvers board hears update on 17 Elm Street work, sets Dec. 16 follow‑up if issues persist

Representatives for Wakefield Associates told the Select Board on Dec. 2 that temporary asphalt sidewalk and protective scaffolding are in place at 17 Elm Street and that the street has been reopened. Nancy McCann, representing the developer and owner Joe Roberto, said the developer expects final sidewalk work and removal of scaffolding by May 15, 2026 and is not seeking a new extension beyond the board’s existing Dec. 15 deadline for the public‑way occupation.

But Tim Hudon, the town’s building official, told the board his office had issued a stop‑work order for building construction because the contractor deviated from approved plans and had found issues with the temporary sidewalk’s cross‑slope and with the scaffolding’s overhead and barrier protections. Hudon said the stop‑work order (issued Nov. 5) will not be lifted until pedestrian protection meets Chapter 33 requirements. He said the town engineer, Stephen King, believes a more extensive repaving and regrading may be necessary to meet ADA and PROWAG requirements and estimated remediation could take about two weeks when work begins, weather permitting.

Contractor Tim Spencer, who installed the temporary sidewalk, said the surface is "flat, smooth, and safe," noting some locations may exceed the allowance by "maybe 1%." He said his crew could make corrections within two weeks. Board members expressed concern that written milestone documentation requested at the October meeting had not reached the clerk and asked for a written schedule with a hard target date; McCann said her Oct. 16 letter included a May 15 completion date.

The board asked the town clerk to place the developer and the general contractor on the Dec. 16 agenda if the building inspector and town engineer have not signed off on the public‑way remediation by Dec. 15, and asked staff to investigate whether the town can impose fines or other penalties if the work extends beyond the permitted period.