Small businesses at Ferry Street tell council prolonged construction is hurting livelihoods

A string of small business owners from Everett’s Ferry Street addressed the council during public participation with sharply similar complaints: unannounced or prolonged construction, blocked entrances, lost customers, damaged inventory and a lack of communications or remedies from contractors and utilities.

Felipa (La Oaxacaena), the owner of a restaurant on Ferry Street, said workers shut off gas without prior notice late at night, forcing the business to discard prepared food and lose hundreds of dollars in sales; she said she was promised follow‑up from the utility but received none. The owner of Ever Furniture described basement flooding, lost stock and repeated access problems tied to ongoing road and utility works. Several other proprietors asked whether the city has a program to reimburse business losses when construction is unannounced or continuing for weeks.

Councilors acknowledged the complaints and confirmed follow‑ups. They told business owners the council would refer items to the engineering department and to National Grid (where applicable) and asked the administration to identify whether there are permitting, notification or compensation mechanisms for cases where contractor work disrupts businesses. Councilors also urged better advance notice, a single point of outreach for merchants, and documentation of business losses to support any future claims.

Speakers included small business owners from Ferry Street and other nearby commercial addresses. Council directed the clerk to refer a resolution on contractor staging and construction standards to the city engineer and requested that National Grid be asked about any available business‑loss assistance programs. The referral asked for a report back by the council’s October meeting cycle.