GUILFORD – Despite inclement weather and tension at the construction site of Guilford’s new Town Hall and Highway Garage, the project’s progress is still on track.

“It’s coming,” said Jim Wakeman of Richard W. Wakeman of Sidney, the contractor awarded the general construction contract for the project in August of 2008. Wakeman attended the Town of Guilford end of the year meeting on Monday to give an update to the board.

The local contractor reported he has recently butted heads with the town’s Clerk of the Works, Brian Treffeisen, on several issues at the site. Treffeisen was out of town and unable to attend the meeting.

“It all started with the roof system,” Wakeman explained. Treffeisen had raised concerns that the ZIP System roof, manufactured by Huber Engineered Woods, was not installed per the manufacturers recommendations.

“I told him they are non-issues, and he doesn’t believe me,” said Wakeman, who expressed concerns that the negative relationship would have an impact on his reputation. “There’s no reason for it; we really haven’t done anything wrong.”

According to Building Committee Chairperson Sue McIntyre, Treffeisen said the contractor did not use two tools recommended by Huber to ensure the proper pressure was applied during installation of the self-adhesive roof system, and that the work was done on a day when the temperature was “colder than considered optimal.”