A project to install new brick sidewalks around Edgartown has put a spotlight on the role of one selectman who provided workers for the job. Selectman Michael Donaroma said he had been asked to provide workers when the project fell behind schedule, and that at the time he had no concerns about a conflict of interest since he did not participate in the bid.

“I didn’t think it would be a problem, I had nothing to do with the contract right from the beginning,” Mr. Donaroma told the Gazette Tuesday. Mr. Donaroma owns the nursery and landscaping company Donaroma’s.

The sidewalk project was discussed briefly at the weekly selectmen’s meeting Monday.

Highway superintendent Stuart Fuller told selectmen that work on the project is about half done and has been halted for the summer.

After the meeting, Mr. Fuller told the Gazette that brick sidewalks on Church, Winter, and part of North Water streets have been replaced, with remaining work to do on North Water, Main and Dock streets. While initial plans were to completely finish the project before the summer, he said work progressed slower than expected, and the town told the contractors not to rush. Edgartown does not allow work on town streets during the summer season.

In February selectmen awarded a $492,332 bid for the project to Lawrence-Lynch Corp. in Falmouth. Mr. Fuller said MON Landscaping in North Dartmouth was the subcontractor on the project. He confirmed that some of the subcontracted work was subbed out to Donaroma’s.

Mr. Donaroma was not present when the bid was awarded. Town procurement officer Juliet Mulinare said on Tuesday that Lawrence-Lynch was the lowest of three bidders, but subcontractors are not controlled by the town. “Once we award a contract to a contractor they can [subcontract] to whoever they want,” she said, adding that the town had no conflict of interest concerns.

Speaking to the Gazette by phone Tuesday, Mr. Donaroma confirmed that he had three or four workers on the job. He said when the project fell behind schedule this spring, he had been approached by the project manager for possible help. He said he was paid by the main contractor and only provided labor, no materials. He said he no longer has people working on the job and will not participate in the future.

Meanwhile, on Monday selectmen praised the brickwork that has already been completed. “It’s nice, big difference,” selectman Margaret Serpa.

“All’s well that ends well,” Mr. Fuller told the Gazette about the summer-long break in the project. He said work will be completed in the fall.

In other business Monday, selectmen approved a seasonal liquor license for an oyster bar at 19 Church street, the former location of Isola restaurant’s health food take-out shop. Joe Monteiro said he plans to offer a range of Island oysters at the small shop. “We want an oyster from each pond on the Island,” he told selectmen. Some hot food will be on the menu from time to time, he said, and there will be a bar in addition to about 20 seats inside and 30 or so outdoor seats.

Selectman approved the liquor license subject to conditions already set by the zoning board of appeals.

They also deferred a decision on an application to remove two 35-foot-tall pin oak trees at 87 Pease’s Point Way. Jon Fragosa, speaking on behalf of the homeowner, said the trees are in good shape but encroaching on power lines and have to be cut back from the building. “They’re not going to look anything like they do now,” he said. He said the homeowners wanted to consider replacing the trees with dogwoods or some other ornamental trees.

Mr. Fuller, who is also the tree warden, concurred that the trees are in good shape but said they might lose aesthetic appeal after pruning. “I can see the fate of them is probably not going to be good,” he added.

Selectmen asked whether a decision could be postponed until after the trees were trimmed back and pruned. “I’d rather see what that does,” Mrs. Serpa said.

Mr. Fragosa agreed.

Selectmen approved a private fireworks show on June 10 in the outer harbor. Organizers were asked to continue working with the town police and fire departments, the harbor master, and the conservation commission, as the location of the fireworks might be adjusted to accommodate nesting piping plovers.

This article has been updated to clarify that Mr. Donaroma was asked to help by the project manager, not the highway superintendent.