Three Island towns were presented with a plan Tuesday to take steps to get some construction workers back on the job, but there were mixed reviews, and all paused after hearing strong objection from Martha’s Vineyard Hospital president and chief executive officer Denise Schepici.

Since the coronavirus outbreak began, five of the six Island towns have adopted strict construction bans that block nearly all building and landscape work on construction sites. The bans initially ran to April 7 and were extended last week to April 21.

Recently town health officials have been working on a set of draft guidelines to allow some limited work to resume. Among other things, there has been pressure from tradesmen who have been sidelined by the construction ban.

But in an email sent to West Tisbury town administrator Jen Rand Tuesday afternoon, Ms. Schepici requested a meeting with town officials and warned against any easing of construction restrictions on the Island.

“I am so incredibly concerned about the desire to lift the construction ban and I’d appreciate being heard as I think we are making a dire mistake even if only for two-person jobs,” Ms. Schepici wrote. “It’s like opening Pandora’s box.”

The guidelines were reviewed at separate meetings of the Chilmark, Tisbury and Oak Bluffs selectmen Tuesday. Phase one of a larger “get back to work” plan outlines rules for construction sites with social distancing, hygiene and safety protocols, as well as rules that will allow for one and two-man crews to return to job sites.

At the Tisbury meeting, town health agent Maura Valley said she was comfortable allowing phase one to begin April 22, but she agreed that Ms. Schepici should be heard.

“Maybe we can allay her concerns by talking with her about how we plan on implementing and enforcing this phase one rollout,” Ms. Valley said.

In Oak Bluffs the majority of the selectmen said they had problems with the guidelines as written, and they agreed that it was too soon to allow people to return to job sites.

“On the whole I don’t think I can vote for this. There’s too much in here that doesn’t seem appropriate,”  said selectman Gail Barmakian, who also raised concerns about enforcement.

Board chairman Brian Packish agreed.

“We’ve been running the police chief ragged going job site to job site . . . It’s disheartening because this is trying to help folks and save lives,” he said. “I would vote to develop some talking points and guidelines around going back shortly after the 21st, but I wouldn’t be willing to support the guidelines as presented.”

Selectman Greg Coogan added his concerns.

“Two things bother me, one is Islandwide — it would certainly be smart to all be on the same page,” Mr. Coogan said. “Two, I certainly lean, as much as I know there’s a lot of pressure, on to not think about the 21st because I think it’s too premature. So it’s a little too quick for my liking.”

At their meeting, Chilmark selectmen voted to back the guidelines but decided to reconvene Thursday and take up the matter again.

“I have a hard time . . . [voting] against the wishes of the medical authority that is going to treat me if I get this thing,” selectman James Malkin said. “The hospital thinks that the opening is premature.”

Will Sennott, Aaron Wilson and Louisa Hufstader contributed reporting.