Obviously, this is disappointing news.”

Town Council President Keith Hamilton

PORTSMOUTH — Members of the town’s police force will have to wait longer than expected to move into their new building.

A new 22,0000-square-foot, two-story building, which voters approved through a $10 million bond issue in November 2016, was originally projected to open its doors in October. 

But on Monday, Marc Zawatsky of ABM Group, the project’s construction manager, told the Town Council that the roofing contractor has backed out of the project, delaying construction about eight weeks. Construction now won’t be completed until sometime in December, with the station opening in January, Mr. Zawatsky said.

The current 5,000-square-foot police station, where the new building’s main parking area will be located, will be demolished after occupancy. Final grading and work on the parking lot and plantings have been deferred until next spring, Mr. Zawatsky said.

“Obviously, this is disappointing news,” said Town Council President Keith Hamilton. “We were expecting to have a new police station in October, not January.” 

The project’s general contractor, Bentley Builders LLC of North Kingstown, is in the process of finding a replacement roofing contractor for both the flat and sloped-roof assemblies, said Mr. Zawatsky, who assured the council there will be no financial impact to the town.

“The Town of Portsmouth will not pay one penny more,” he said.

Bentley Builders was selected to be the general contractor for the construction project in September 2017 after it submitted the lowest ($8.31 million) of six base bids. There have since been several change orders, adding about $321,000 to that amount, bringing the total to $8.63 million so far.

Mr. Hamilton asked Mr. Zawatsky to keep reviewing the project closely and do whatever he could to keep costs down.

“I don’t want to be back here in another three months with another change order,” he said.